Apparatus and method for producing fulfillment pieces on demand in a variable imaging system

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a method for assembling fulfillment pieces with custom documents in an efficient manner. The fulfillment pieces, which may have fixed and/or variable information, are produced in line on the same press as the custom documents. This &#34;on demand&#34; fulfillment is accomplished through the manipulation of an original database containing document recipient information. The database manipulation includes adding records (rows) or columns to the original database to represent the custom document and the fulfillment pieces. The modified databases are used to create press command files, which are combined according to the configuration of the database to produce ordered output from a press.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the subject matter described in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/802,337 entitled "Imposition Process and Apparatus for Variable Imaging System," filed Feb. 2, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/478,397, filed Jun. 7, 1995 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/627,724, filed Apr. 2, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,209.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to reproduction methods and systems, and more particularly to a method of and system for selectively reproducing images.

BACKGROUND ART

Most printing systems in use today utilize printing plates or cylinders which are engraved or photochemically processed to create an image thereon. Ink is then deposited on the plate or cylinder and the ink is thereafter transferred to a substrate, such as paper. In a conventional printing press, a number of pages are printed on a sheet of paper to form a signature which is then folded and assembled with other signatures. The assembled signatures are then bound, trimmed and finished by finishing apparatus to produce finished books, such as magazines, catalogs or any other printed and bound matter.

Often, there is a need to produce different versions of books and/or customized books within a single press run. For example, it may be desirable to produce a number of standard books together with a number of books having additional and/or different signatures or pages therein. Also, it may be necessary or desirable to provide customized information in the form of an address label, personalized information or the like on the inside or outside of finished books. In either case, conventional printing systems are not easily adaptable to produce books of these types.

A printing system which has the ability to produce differing book versions and/or books with customized information is disclosed in Riley U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,818, assigned to the assignee of the instant application. The printing system includes a number of packer boxes disposed adjacent a binding chain wherein each packer box stores a plurality of signatures. A control is included for controlling the packer boxes to selectively feed signatures onto chain spaces of the binding chain so that books of varying content can be produced. Customized information can be printed on the signatures by means of an ink jet printer which is selectively operated by the control. Other types of customization can be effectuated, such as by inserting or onserting cards or the like.

Other systems for producing customized books are disclosed in Abrams et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,165, Wong et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,500,083 and 4,674,052, Wong U.S. Pat. No. Re 32,690 and Berger et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,768,766 and 4,789,147.

Image manipulating systems have been developed which permit gathering of images in an office or home environment. For example, conventional word processing programs, such as Microsoft® Word®, WordPerfect® and the like, permit a user to import images into a page and also allow a user to command which pages of a document to print. In addition, macros (i.e., a sequence of commands) can be assembled and executed within these programs which can allow printing of particular document pages in a certain order. Still further, most word processing programs have merge capability wherein a customized image is merged with other standardized information and printed or displayed. As one example, customized information in the form of addressee and address information may be merged with standardized return address information and printed on a series of envelopes.

A different image gathering capability provided by CAD (computer aided design) software, sometimes referred to as "layering," involves the creation and storage of a base page and one or more layer pages. A user can issue commands to display or print the base page and one or more of the layer pages simultaneously atop one another to achieve an effect similar to the overlay of transparencies so that a composite page appearance results.

While the foregoing image manipulating systems allow some image gathering capability, none is effective to assist in the rapid production of different book versions. Of course, CAD systems are primarily designed for line art and not text or graphic images, and hence are of only limited use. Further, if one were to use word processing software to produce book versions it would be necessary to issue commands to separately print the pages of each book version just before such version is to be produced. That is, a user would have to create and store ages to be included in a first book version and then command the software to print as many copies of the first version as are needed. Thereafter, the user would have to recall the pages of the first version from memory, edit and store the pages to create pages to be included in a second book version and then command the system to print the required number of books of the second version. Similar steps would have to be undertaken for each other book version to be produced. Alternatively, the pages of the different book versions could be created and stored and thereafter printed together. In either event, where many book versions are to be produced, such a process would be quite time-consuming. In addition, image importation and merge routines provided as a part of word processing software are adapted for use on a sub-page basis only and hence are of only limited usefulness in the book production environment. Still further, data manipulated by word processing software are largely (if not entirely) in symbolic format. As a result, data to be displayed or printed must be first rasterized by a raster image processor (RIP), which utilizes complex and time-consuming computational routines which further increase production time to an economically impractical level.

Recently, new printing systems have been developed, called "demand printers," which are capable of high speed printing of images from electronic representations thereof. The demand printer produces high quality color (or black and white) images using a set of fusible toners in an electrophotographic process. More particularly, a web of paper is passed adjacent a series of drums, each of which has been electrostatically charged according to an image pattern for a particular color to be applied to the web. The charge is transferred to the paper and an oppositely charged toner of the proper color is brought into contact with the paper. The oppositely charged web and toner attract so that the toner is held on the paper as other colors are applied thereto. The toners and paper are thereafter heated to fuse the toners to the paper to produce the final image. The web is then cut into sheets (or "forms") and the forms are further processed as needed to produce a final product.

Unlike conventional presses which utilize engraved or photochemically prepared plates or cylinders, demand printers are capable of rapidly printing high quality images of differing content owing to the fact that the images are produced by an electrophotographic process. That is, instead of the need to replate and re-engrave a gravure cylinder when a different image is to be printed therewith, it is only necessary to change the charge applied to the drums of the printer in order to make such change. Thus, different images can be printed by the same printer without significant delays. This advantage makes the demand printer desirable for use in certain production environments.

Warmus et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/478,397, entitled "Variable Imaging Using An Electronic Press" discloses an apparatus and method for controlling an electronic press so that fixed and variable information may be printed in a simple and effective manner. More particularly, first and second sets of template data representing associated first and second template pages, respectively, are developed. Each set of template data includes master data representing fixed information and area data representing an area of a page for variable information. A database is also developed having a number of entries each of which represents variable information. The printer is operated in accordance with the sets of template data and the entries in the database such that the first and second template pages are displayed with selected variable information.

The Warmus et al. apparatus and method generates a page definition language representation of each single page and thereafter generates a page definition language representation of each imposed flat, i.e., each side of a piece of paper to be printed with two or more pages. Such a procedure can be computationally expensive and may limit productivity.

Prior Art Fulfillment Systems

The process of assembling additional pieces of information with a custom document is referred to as fulfillment. Traditionally, fulfillment is accomplished by preprinting all static fulfillment pieces off-line and warehousing them in sorted bins. After the customized document is produced, the appropriate static fulfillment pieces are assembled with each custom document to be mailed. Assembly of the custom documents and the fulfillment pieces is typically done manually. For example, if John Smith is to receive static fulfillment pieces A,B, and C with his custom document, a production worker manually pulls static pieces A,B, and C from the appropriate bins and assembles them with the custom document to be mailed to John Smith.

This fulfillment process is prone to human error due to the fact that the person picking the fulfillment pieces from the bins may inadvertently pull a fulfillment piece from the incorrect bin. Additionally, the person responsible for stocking the bins with the fulfillment pieces may inadvertently stock the bins with the wrong pieces, which would result in the "incorrect" fulfillment pieces being pulled from the "correct" bins. Another shortcoming of the manual fulfillment process is the need to store the pre-printed fulfillment pieces in a warehouse, which can result in warehousing costs and obsolesence of the fulfillment pieces. Additionally, the number of pieces pre-printed is typically in excess of projected needs to avoid running out of fulfillment pieces in the event that some of the pre-printed pieces are damaged or have defects such as smudges. Overprint leads to waste of the excess fulfillment pieces when a job is completed.

Traditionally, since the fulfillment pieces are printed offline, they must contain the same information for everyone that is to receive a particular fulfillment piece. That is, there can be no customization of the fulfillment pieces.

Peach et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,955, discloses a process for merging promotional information from different promotions based on multiple requests. The information is merged into a single stream for printing. Printing can be arranged such that the items are printed in the desired mailing sequence.

Hidding, U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,624, discloses a fulfillment system wherein a main document is scanned. Based on the information read by the scanner, documents are selected for enclosure with the main document. The information read by the scanner prompts the database to send data for the appropriate enclosures to a printer. After the enclosure documents are printed they are assembled with the main document for mailing.

The Peach et al. and the Hidding systems are incapable of providing fulfillment pieces having custom information for each recipient. Also, in the Peach et al. and Hidding systems, the fulfillment pieces are printed separately from the main document and cannot be incorporated into a single document. Additionally, the Hidding system requires the use of a bar code on the master document and a scanner to read the bar code. Once the fulfillment pieces are printed, they must be manually assembled with the appropriate master document. Moreover, both the Peach et al. and the Hidding systems require the use of the same stock size for all printed material.

The present invention overcomes many of the limitations of the prior art in that it allows "on-demand fulfillment" or in-line processing of fulfillment pieces that are to accompany a primary mailing. The present invention allows fulfillment pieces to be reproduced as they are needed in mailing order along with the primary mailing, which avoids manual assembly. The fulfillment pieces may be printed as separate sheets or combined with the primary mailing as a complete book. Also, the present invention provides additional flexibility in that the fulfillment pieces can contain variable information and can be printed on different stock. Additionally, the present invention reduces processing time by eliminating redundant processing of static information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of reproducing books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book and fulfillment piece may include variable data, comprises the steps of: (a) modifying a database containing variable data for pages in the book to include reference to the fulfillment pieces; (b) creating template page files, the page files having fixed information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable data will be reproduced; (c) generating a press command file to specify the distribution order in which the pages and the fulfillment pieces should be reproduced; (d) interpreting the pages and fulfillment pieces according to the press command file, including incorporating the variable data from the database into the pages at the location of the corresponding placeholder; and (e) transmitting the pages and fulfillment pieces to a display device in distribution order.

In a preferred embodiment, the display device is a demand printer that prints the pages and fulfillment pieces or a computer that transmits the pages and fulfillment pieces are transmitted to a computer network. Also, the fulfillment pieces may be printed as separate sheets or attached to the pages to be distributed to a single address. The reference to the fulfillment piece in the database may comprise a file name corresponding to the fulfillment piece and the fulfillment pieces may be generated as QuarkXPress® files.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database which contains a record for each person to receive a book, comprises the steps of: (a) creating template page files representing each page, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) adding an additional number of records to the database for each person, wherein the number of additional records per person corresponds to the number of fulfillment pieces for that person; (c) for each additional record added to the database, inserting a reference to a fulfillment piece; and (d) reading each record from the database, including mapping the variable information in the database to the corresponding placeholder on the page files to generate a book and, for each reference in the database to a fulfillment piece, generating that fulfillment piece.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database which contains a record for each person to receive a book, comprises the steps of: (a) creating template page files representing each page, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) adding a column to the database for each fulfillment piece and, for each column, adding a reference to the fulfillment pieces for each record; (c) creating a press command file for each book and each fulfillment piece and, for each record in the database, copying the press command file for the book and the press command file for each fulfillment piece referenced, and merging the copied press command files into a new press command file; and (d) interpreting the page files according to the new press command file, including mapping the variable data from the database to the corresponding placeholders on the page files.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database, comprises the steps of: (a) creating template page files representing each page, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) creating a controlling database containing variable data for the book, a record for each person to receive the book and a unique identification for each person; (c) creating a fulfillment database for each fulfillment piece, wherein each fulfillment database contains variable information for the fulfillment piece, a record for each person and the unique identification for each person; (d) analyzing the controlling database for identification numbers, and for each identification number, searching each fulfillment database for the records containing that unique identification, and for each record in each database containing that identification number, copying a press command file associated with the identification number and merging the copied press command files into a new press command file; and (e) interpreting the page files according to the new press command file, including mapping the variable information from the databases to the corresponding placeholders on the page files.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database which contains a record for each person, comprises the steps of: (a) creating template page files representing each page in a book, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) adding a number of blank page files to the template page files, wherein the number of blank page files corresponds to a maximum number of pages in the fulfillment pieces; (c) inserting an image box on each added blank page file; (d) modifying the database by adding a reference to fulfillment piece pages for each record; (e) interpreting the page files, including mapping the variable information from the database to the corresponding placeholders on the page files; and (f) imposing the book pages and the fulfillment piece pages for each record in the database into a single book.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the apparatus claimed and disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art method of producing books;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a method of producing books implementing the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for implementing the method of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one of the demand printing systems of FIG. 3 in greater detail;

FIG. 5 is a generalized diagram of the steps implemented by the method of the present invention;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are elevational views of portions of a sample book that may be produced by the present invention;

FIGS. 7a, 7b and 8a, 8b are elevational views of portions of other sample books that may be produced by the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating programming that may be executed by a user on a personal computer to create the template files 105 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 10a-10f, when joined along similarly-lettered lines, together represent programming executed by the control unit 52 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the programming implemented by the control unit 52 to generate a page description language instruction set specifying which pages should be printed and how the pages should be positioned (or imposed) for printing;

FIG. 12 is a sample window to prompt a user for the information needed to create a pagination file;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the programming implemented by the block 348 of FIG. 11 which determines which pages should be printed for a particular record in the press command file;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the programming implemented by the block 350 of FIG. 11 to determine whether the pages should be forced to the left or right-hand side of the book;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the programming implemented by the block 352 of FIG. 11 to pad the pages included in the book into a multiple of the number of pages to be printed on a sheet;

FIG. 16 is a sample window to prompt a user to provide various information to select imposition and printing styles;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the programming implemented to RIP page files to Tiff format for use in "Get Tiff" imposition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is flowchart illustrating the programming implemented to impose pages using "Get Tiff" imposition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a more detailed block diagram of the print system 79 (shown in FIG. 4) incorporating the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the standard operation of the Level 2 PostScript® showpage operator;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined Postscript® initclip operator according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined PostScript® transform operators according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the EnableVirtualDevice procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the DisablePageDevice procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the SetPortrait procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 26A is a diagram illustrating the conversion of a portrait-oriented page to a landscape-oriented page according to the SetPortrait procedure of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26B is a diagram illustrating the conversion of a landscape-oriented page to a portrait-oriented page according to the SetPortrait procedure of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the setvirtualdevice procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the ImposeJob procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the ImposeFile procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the MakeNull procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined EndPage procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined BeginPage procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the Vsave procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the Vrestore procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined PostScript® save operators according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined PostScript® restore operator according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention; and

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined PostScript® grestore and grestoreall operators according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art method of producing books, for example, as shown in the above-identified Riley et al. '818 patent. During a publishing step 20, the contents of one or more book versions are determined. Each version may comprise, for example, a set of standard or common pages. In addition, some of the versions may include one or more additional pages or other customized information. Thereafter, during a preliminary step 22, color correction of color images is undertaken together with undercolor removal and screening for halftone images. During a prepress step 24, page imposition is effected and printing cylinders or plates are prepared. The plates or cylinders are then used during a printing step 26 to prepare signatures which are loaded into packer boxes (not shown). As noted in the Riley et al. '818 patent identified above, the signatures are then selectively collected on a gathering chain (not shown) during a book assembly step 28 and the gathered signatures are bound and trimmed to create the books. The books are thereafter distributed during a step 30 to users via one or more distribution systems, for example, the U.S. Postal Service.

As should be evident from the foregoing, customization occurs during the book assembly step 28, inasmuch as the choice of particular signatures to be included in a book is made at that time. In addition, customized information can be printed onto selected signatures using an ink jet printer disposed adjacent the gathering chain. Thus, for example, addressee information can be printed by the ink jet printer on assembled books so that preprinted addressee labels need not be used. Other types of customization can be effected at this time, for example, by inserting or onserting cards into or onto a stack of collected signatures, affixing a specialized or customized cover on a gathered stack of signatures, or the like. Customization at this point in the production process is simpler and less expensive than, for example, separately printing each book version with customized information.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a method 40 according to the present invention which may be used in place of the method of FIG. 1 to produce books. The method 40 includes a step 42 which utilizes the output of publishing and preliminary steps 36, 38 and produces books for distribution according to the step 30 of FIG. 1. The step 42 creates one or more master and variable page files in, for example, a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript® (Postscript® is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. for its page description language) representing pages to be produced. In addition, as noted in greater detail hereinafter, a press command file (also referred to as a "book ticket" file) is developed which specifies the manner in which data contained within the master and variable page files are to be merged to produce printed pages. The format of the press command file may be, for example, of the form specified by Barco Graphics of Gent, Belgium, which is particularly suited for control of a DCP-1 digital color press manufactured by Xeikon of Mortsel, Belgium. Alternatively, the format of the press command file may be of the form specified for control of a DocuPrint printer, manufactured by Xerox Corporation. Other demand printers include the IBM 3900 or Siemens 2090 Twin or 2140 Twin. It should be noted that the apparatus and method of the present invention are not limited to use with a particular type of demand printer or a particular system for controlling such a printer, inasmuch as the invention can be adapted for use with any type of printer or control whether located locally or remotely.

The master and variable page files and the press command file are converted by a collator and raster image processor (RIP) into bitmaps which may be stored in a memory. The stored bitmaps are used to control one or more demand printers and/or any other type of display device, such as a laser printer, a CRT, an LCD display or the like so that the device displays pages having fixed and variable information thereon. Alternatively, the master and variable page files may be premerged to create a plurality of combined files each representing a page to be reproduced with master and variable information. The combined files can be then sent to any type of printer or other display device, whether local or remote. Also, the combined files can be converted to a suitable format (e.g., Acrobat® PDF format) and transmitted to a remote location using a facsimile machine, e-mail, the Internet/World Wide Web or other transmission medium, if desired. Advantageously, the combined files may be transmitted over the Internet or any other networked or linked computers, such as a company intranet. In this case, an electronic page containing customized data can be sent over the Internet/intranet to a user based upon user demographic(s), a user search and/or any other identifiable user interests(). For example, a customized Internet page could be sent with links to other web pages of interest to a user or a customized page may be sent in response to a user search for information on a particular subject. Alternatively, or in addition, ads could be generated and sent as a web page to one or more users based upon user demographics. As a further example, personnel information concerning a particular employee may be sent to the employee in response to a request for information.

If the pages are to be displayed by rendering the ages on the demand printer, the assembled books may be bound and trimmed and, if desired, further customized, during a finishing step.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 50 which implements the steps 36, 38 and 42 in the method 40 of FIG. 2. A control unit 52, which may be implemented by a personal computer or another type of computer, includes a memory 53 and stores therein data representing images to be printed. As noted in greater detail hereinafter, the data may be specified by a publisher using a personal computer 54 or any other type of computer and may comprise one or more template files specifying pages to be produced with master or fixed printed information (i.e., printed information which does not vary from book to book of the same version) and variable printed information (which typically varies from book to book). The variable information may be stored in a database created by the publisher and the template file(s) specify the locations on particular pages for variable information stored in the database, as noted in greater detail hereinafter.

If desired, image data may be obtained from any other type of device or devices, such as a scanner which scans input copy, data supplied over a network or any other source. The control unit 52 is further responsive to control and makeready files and causes one or more demand printing systems 62 to print desired pages. While three demand printing systems 62a-62c are illustrated in FIG. 3, it should be understood that the control unit 52 may operate a different number of demand printing systems, as desired. Also, the control unit 52 may operate a fax machine 64 and/or may communicate with other remote devices to send properly converted combined files, as desired and as noted above. In the case of other remote devices, a modem 65 may be operated by the control unit 52 to transmit data representing one or more pages to be displaced by a display device at a remote location over phone lines (land lines and/or cellular) or a combination of phone lines and the Internet. Alternatively or in addition, the data may be sent to a local or remote location at least in part over an intranet or another computer network through a direct connection therewith. The combined files may be printed or may alternatively be reproducible in a different medium and/or may comprise a non-static image or other information, e.g., movies or audio.

The pages printed by the demand printing system 62 may be supplied to a finishing apparatus 66 which includes various auxiliary production devices and device interfaces for assembling the pages to produce finished books which are ready for distribution. The finishing apparatus 66 may include one or more gathering devices 70 for gathering printed pages into books, one or more ink jet printers 72 for printing additional customized information, such as addressee information, on each book, one or more label printers 74 for printing address labels and/or other control devices 76. In addition, one or more detectors 78 may be provided to sense when a defective book is produced. The control unit 52 may be responsive to the output of the detector 78 to reorder a defective book at an appropriate point in the production sequence thereof so that advantage can be taken of postal discounts, if possible.

One or more components of the finishing apparatus 66 may be physically located on the demand printer (i.e. "online finishing"). Alternatively, the finishing apparatus 66 may be physically separate from the demand printer (i.e. "offline finishing").

FIG. 4 illustrates the demand print system 62a of FIG. 3 in greater detail, it being understood that the systems 62b and 62c are functionally similar. The system 62a includes a print system 79 having a press controller 80, a collator 81 and a raster image processor (RIP) 82 which are operable in response to press commands generated by the control unit 52. A collator is an electronic device for storing raster image processor files (i.e., bitmap files) and delivering selected files to a digital press in real time, such that the digital press can run at full speed while processing and printing unique page data for each book produced on the press. The RIP 82 converts the page files to bitmap format or any other format, such as a symbolic printer control language. The collator 81 includes memory in the form of mass storage drives and physical memory and collates the bitmap page files. If desired, the collator 81 and/or RIP 82 may comprise a part of the press controller 80. The controller 80 instructs the collator 81 to send page files to a demand printer 84. The print system 79 may comprise the PrintStreamer system, manufactured and marketed by Barco Graphics of Belgium, while the demand printer 84 may comprise the Xeikon DCP-1 digital color press noted above. Alternatively, the demand printer 84 may be a DocuPrint printer manufactured by Xerox Corporation and the RIP 82 may be a Xerox DocuPrint RIP.

It should be noted that a different print system and/or demand printer may alternatively be used, such as the Indigo printer manufactured by Indigo Nev., of Maastricht, Netherlands, if desired.

FIG. 5 illustrates in diagrammatic generalized form he method of the present invention. For the purpose of explaining the present invention, as an example, it will be assumed that the demand print system 62a will be operated to produce a number of multiple-page books in the form of a brochure in duplex (or "saddle-stich") format. FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate four pages P1-P4 printed on a single sheet of paper 100 and to be included in a brochure. The sheet of paper 100 includes a first side 100a with printed pages P1, P4 thereon and a second side 100b with pages P2, P3 printed thereon. (As will become evident hereinafter, the use of designations P1-P4 is not meant to imply that such pages will necessarily become pages 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the finished book.) In addition, pages P1-P4 are imposed such that the page P1 is placed on a right-hand portion 100a-r of the side 100a while the page P4 is placed on a left-hand portion 100a-l of the side 100a. Further, the page P2 is placed on a left-hand portion 100b-l of the side 100b while the page P3 is placed on a right-hand portion 100b-r of the side 100b. In this fashion, when the sheet of paper 100 is folded along a fold line 102 with the pages P1 and P4 on the outside, the pages P1-P4 appear in sequence. (The format shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is often referred to as "saddle stitch" imposition and is commonly used in magazines.) Because each book to be produced in this example includes multiple sheets of paper (or "forms"), each folded once along a fold line, the imposition process takes into account shingling effects but not bottling effects. It should be noted both of that such effects will generally have to be taken into account when more than two pages are to be printed on a single side of a sheet of paper and thereafter folded multiple times and assembled with other multiple-folded printed sheets of paper to create a book.

In addition to the foregoing, in the first example, assume that the pages P1 and P4 will become the outside front and back covers, respectively, of a finished book and include variable and fixed information thereon. Further, assume that the pages P2 and P3 will become the inside front and back covers, respectively, (as must be the case if P1 and P4 are the outside front covers) and include fixed information only thereon. For example, the page P1 may include variable information in the form of a personalized message, a variable image, or the like in an area 110 whereas the page P4 may include other variable information in an area 112, for example, postal information for mailing the brochure to an addressee. Corresponding front and back pages of the remaining books may include different variable information. The remaining printed information on pages P1-P4 may be identical to the printed information on corresponding pages of remaining books.

The books to be produced may include the same or differing number of forms and may have the same or differing numbers of pages. For example, the pages P1-P4 may be assembled with a number of other printed forms comprising twelve additional pages to produce a first book having sixteen pages. Another book to be produced in the same run may include some or all of pages P1-P4 and a second number of forms printed with twenty other pages, some of which may or may not be identical to the twelve additional pages of the first book. Filler pages may be placed in some or all books to cause such book(s) to have a certain number of pages. This may be necessary or desirable to result in a book length which is evenly divisible by four (in the event pages are imposed as two-page spreads) and/or to insure that particular page(s) appear on the left-hand or right-hand side in the finished book.

In fact, the books to be produced in the same press run may be different in terms of page content and/or appearance, book length, book size (by changing page imposition parameters), book version, etc . . . Specifically, for example, the pages of FIGS. 7a, 7b and 8a, 8b may be produced and assembled in different book versions together with the book version incorporating the pages of FIGS. 6a and 6b in the same production run or job. Pages P5-P8 of FIGS. 7a and 7b are identical to the pages P1-P4, respectively, of FIGS. 6a and 6b except that an additional area 113 is provided on the page P5 for placement of variable information, in addition to the areas 110 and 112. Because of the addition of the area 113, the remaining master information appearing in an area 114 differs from master information appearing in an area 116 of the page P1 of FIG. 6a.

The book version incorporating eight pages P9-P16 of FIGS. 8a and 8b differs from the book versions incorporating the pages of FIGS. 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b not only in terms of content of master and variable information, but also number of pages and page size. Specifically, the pages P9, P12, P13 and P16 are to be printed on a first side 117a of a sheet of paper 118 and the remaining pages P10, P11, P14 and P15 are to be printed on a second side 117b of the sheet 118. In addition, the pages P11-P14 are printed upside down relative to the remaining pages so that, when the sheet 118 is folded first along a fold line 119a and then along a fold line 119b, the resulting pages P9-P16 appear in order. Thereafter, the folded sheet 118 is trimmed to separate the pages P9-P16. As should be evident, the pages P9-P16 are one-half the size of the pages P1-P8, and further include different master and variable information thereon. The demand printer may also have multi paper trays to select different paper sizes, stocks, colors etc. or preprinted sheets to be included in the finished book.

Referring again to FIG. 5, one or more template files 106 are developed by a publisher specifying the content (including appearance) of fixed information and the positioning of all information (i.e., fixed and variable) on the different books or book versions. A database 108 is also developed by the publisher using the personal computer 54 specifying the content of variable information to be placed in variable information areas, for example, the areas 110, 112 on the pages P1, P4, respectively, of FIGS. 6a and 6b. The database 108 further includes control information, as noted in greater detail hereinafter.

The template files 106 include data specifying the position and content of fixed information on the pages to be printed. Specifically, the template files 106 define template pages wherein each template page includes data representing any fixed information to be reproduced on corresponding pages of the books or book versions and area data representing any area(s) on the corresponding pages where variable information is to be reproduced. The template files are duplicated to create working files. One set of working files is stripped of all area data relating to placement of variable information to create stripped master page files 120 defining template pages having only fixed information thereon. The stripped master page files are then converted into PDL master page files 122 expressed in a page description language, such as Postscript®.

Optionally, the PDL master page files 122 may be converted into two-page spreads by a page make-up program such as QuarkXPress®. Preferably, however, the PDL master page files 122 are provided to the print system 79 and imposed according to the imposition processes of the present invention, as explained in detail below.

A further set of working files is stripped of all fixed information to create stripped variable page files 126 defining template pages having fixed information removed therefrom and further having the area data defining the areas 110, 112. The data representing template pages having variable information thereon are expanded into a set of intermediate page files. In the example of FIGS. 6a and 6b and under the assumption that three books are to be printed, two intermediate page files 130, 132 are thus produced. The file 130 includes a file portion P1-a defining the position of variable information to be produced on the page P1 for the first book. Two other file portions P1-b and P1-c define the position of variable information to be produced on the front outside covers of the remaining two books. In like fashion, file portions P4-a, P4-b and P4-c represent the position of variable information to be reproduced on the back outside covers of the three books. At this point, data is also contained in each of the files 130, 132 identifying the entries in the database 108 to be placed in the areas 110, 112 during printing.

The files 130, 132 are then converted into variable page files 134, 136. The files 134, 136 are identical to the files 130, 132, respectively, except that the data in each file identifying entries in the database are replaced by the actual data stored at such entries. The files 134, 136 are then converted into files 137, 138 in a PDL format, for example, Postscript®.

Like the master PDL files 122, the variable PDL files 137, 138 may be converted into two-page spreads by a page make-up program such as QuarkXPress®. Preferably, however, the variable PDL files 137, 138 are provided to the print system 79 and imposed according to the imposition procedures of the present invention, as explained in detail below.

The print system 79 operates in response to the press commands in a press command file 140 and merges the PDL master page files 122 with the PDL variable files 137, 138 to create the finished books or book versions. Alternatively, the master page files 122 may be premerged with the PDL variable files 137, 138 before the files are provided to the print system 79.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of programming executed by the personal computer 54 for creating the template file(s) 106 of FIG. 5. The programming may be written as an extension of QuarkXPress®, a page make-up program distributed by Quark, Inc. of Denver, Colo. The QuarkXPress® program may be adapted for operation on the Apple® Macintosh® operating system or any other operating system, such as the Microsoft Windows® operating system. Alternatively, a different page make-up program may be used, if desired.

During the make-up process for a document consisting of one or more pages, a template file is created for each book version to be produced, or, where a book is to include two or more parts (referred to as "sections" hereinafter) a template file may be created for each section. At a block 150 a user may select an area of a page for reproduction of variable information therein, at which point a line object, a text object or an image object may be selected. A block 152 then checks to 5 determine which type of object has been selected. If a text object has been selected, indicating that variable text is to be inserted at a point defined by the current cursor position on the computer display, the name or an indication of the appropriate field in the database 108 is inserted into the template file at the insertion point defined by the current cursor position by a block 154. If the user wishes to designate more areas for variable information (block 156) control returns to the block 150 to await selection by the user. If the user then selects an image object, a box is defined by the user to contain an image at a desired location on a selected page. Control from the block 152 thereafter passes to a block 158 which inserts a dummy picture file and an indication of the proper database field name in the template file for the page at the location indicated by the current cursor position. The user will thereafter see the dummy picture file at the insertion point on the display of the computer 54 when the page is viewed. The dummy picture file will display an indication of which database field will be used for insertion on the respective pages.

Following the block 158, a block 160 prompts the user to enter an indication of whether the image object is to be displayed in one of several display formats. If the image is to be displayed in other than the original size thereof, a block 162 sets a subname defined for the image to "fit," indicating that the image is to be scaled to fit the box. If the image is to be displayed in the original size thereof, a block 163 prompts a user to select a position for the image at a particular location in the box defined therefor, such as the upper left-hand corner, the lower right-hand corner, or the like. If the user does not select a position, the image is placed in the upper left corner of the image box. Control thereafter proceeds to the block 156.

If the block 152 determines that a line object has been selected, control returns directly to the block 150, inasmuch as variable information cannot be entered into a line object. The resulting page template files(s) are stored on a storage medium, such as an optical disc or other storage device, and/or the files(s) are downloaded together with the database to the control unit 52.

At any point during the page make-up process, other functional aspects of the QuarkXPress® program may be invoked to both master and variable aspects as necessary to produce finished pages.

The database 108 is assembled by creating an ASCII file having a plurality of records wherein each record includes one or more fields entered into the database in tab-delimited format (i.e, the fields are separated from one another in each record by tab keystrokes and the records are separated from one another by line returns) and wherein the fields are arranged under field names of a header. Each field may include text to be reproduced on a page or a name of an image file stored in the memory 53 and defining an image to be reproduced on a page.

In addition to the foregoing data, the database 108 may include an optional field designating the number of copies of each book to be produced, an optional townsort image field, a version identification field indicating book version number if multiple book versions are to be produced, an optional distribution list field, control data and the like.

A sample database is set out below having a header consisting of twelve fields (i.e., "version," "addressline1," "addressline2," etc.) and a number of records, nine of which are shown, each having twelve fields:

    __________________________________________________________________________     Version                                                                            Addressline1                                                                          Addressline2                                                                         Addressline3                                                                          Addressline4                                                                         Addressline5                                                                         Price1                                                                             Image1                                                                             Price2                                                                             Copies                                                                             Barcode                                                                              Townsort             __________________________________________________________________________     01  William Doe                                                                           123 Elm                                                                              Chicago                                                                               Illinois                                                                             606248923                                                                            $22.95                                                                             Shoes                                                                              $21.95                                                                             1   !606248923!                03  Hugh   56 Maple                                                                             Chicago                                                                               Illinois                                                                             606248923                                                                            $21.95                                                                             Shirt                                                                              $20.95                                                                             1   !606248923!                    Jorgensen                                                                  02  Jay P. 1313 Park                                                                            Chicago                                                                               Illinois                                                                             606248924                                                                            $24.95                                                                             Pants                                                                              $22.95                                                                             1   !606248924!                                                                          ▪              Morgan                                                                     02  Joe Louis                                                                             819 Elm                                                                              LaGrange                                                                              Illinois                                                                             605251093                                                                            $19.95                                                                             Pants                                                                              $18.95                                                                             1   !605251093!                03  John Smith                                                                            926 Cossit                                                                           LaGrange                                                                              Illinois                                                                             605261093                                                                            $19.95                                                                             Shoes                                                                              $15.25                                                                             1   !605251093!                01  Len Johnson                                                                           882 Monroe                                                                           LaGrange                                                                              Illinois                                                                             605251093                                                                            $19.95                                                                             Shoes                                                                              $17.25                                                                             1   !605251093!                02  Janet Cizmar                                                                          916 Monroe                                                                           LaGrange                                                                              Illinois                                                                             605251094                                                                            $24.95                                                                             Pants                                                                              $21.95                                                                             1   !605251094!                                                                          ▪          03  Jay Schroeder                                                                         88 W. 77th                                                                           Brookfield                                                                            Illinois                                                                             605241391                                                                            $21.95                                                                             Shirt                                                                              $19.95                                                                             1   '605241391!                03  Danielle                                                                              129 Madison                                                                          Brookfield                                                                            Illinois                                                                             605241391                                                                            $22.95                                                                             Shirt                                                                              $19.95                                                                             1   !605241391!                                                                          ▪              Johnston                                                                   __________________________________________________________________________

In the example of FIGS. 6a and 6b, the field names ADDRESSLINE1 through ADDRESSLINE5, BARCODE and TOWNSORT may appear in the area 112 and one or more of the field names PRICE1, IMAGE1 AND PRICE2 may appear in the area 110. The COPIES field may be used as a control code to select the number of book copies to be produced.

Once the template file(s) 106 and the database 108 are assembled, the programming of FIGS. 10a-10f may be executed by the control unit 52 to create the master page file 122, the final variable page files 137 and 138, and the press command file 140. Referring first to FIG. 10a, a block 170 prompts a user to select a template file 106 and a block 172 opens the database 108. A block 174 then reads and stores in a list the database field names for later reference and a block 176 prompts a user to enter information indicating a section number and whether pages are to be printed in simplex (i.e., single-sided) or duplex (i.e., double-sided) format. The section number identifies the order in which multiple sections are to be processed for a particular book. The user may also be prompted to enter a selective processing code identifying a particular book version to process if multiple versions are to be produced during a single press run.

Following the block 176, a block 177 begins the process of stripping variable information from the template file opened by the block 170 to obtain the stripped master file 120 of FIG. 5. The block 177 selects a first page for processing and a block 178 checks to determine whether there are any images in the template file and, if images are located, a block 180 selects a first image.

A block 182 identifies the file name for the image and a block 184 checks the field list to determine whether the file name is included therein. If the file name for the image is included in the field list, then the image comprises variable information and a block 186 deletes the image block. A block 187 then identifies and saves the image box location on the page, the characteristics of the image box, such as the size, skew, background color and subname and the like and further saves the field name of the image from the database 108. Also, a counter in the memory 53 which tracks the number of variable image boxes on the page is incremented.

Otherwise, if the block 184 determines that the file name is not in the field list, then the image contains only master information. A block 188 then also saves the image box location on the page and the characteristics of the image box. Also, a counter in the memory 53 which tracks the number of master image boxes on the page is incremented.

A block 189 then checks to determine whether all images have been processed. If not, a block 190 selects a next image and control returns to the blocks 182-189. Control remains with such blocks until the block 189 determines that all images have been processed and control then passes to a block 192. Control also passes to the block 192 from the block 178 should the latter determine that there are no images in the template file.

The block 192 determines whether any text boxes are present in the open template file. If at least one text box is present, a block 194 selects and parses a first text box and a block 196 (FIG. 10b) checks to determine whether the text box includes at least one of the field names of the database 108. If so, then it has been determined that the text box includes variable information and a block 198 deletes the text box. A block 199 then stores the text box location, the insertion points in the text box at which variable information is to be printed and the characteristics of the text box and the field names of the database 108 identified in such text box in the memory 53. In addition, a variable text box counter is incremented representing the number of variable text boxes appearing on each page.

Otherwise, if the block 196 determines that the text box does not include any field names from the database, then the text box contains only master information. A block 200 stores the text box location in the memory 53. In addition, a master text box counter is incremented representing the number of master text boxes appearing on each page.

Control then passes to a block 202, which checks to determine whether all text boxes in the template file have been processed. If not, a block 204 selects and parses the next text box in the template file and control returns to the blocks 196-202. Control remains with such blocks until all text boxes have been processed, whereupon a block 206 determines whether all pages have been processed. If not, a block 208 selects a next page and control returns to the block 178 (FIG. 10a). Otherwise, a block 210 saves the resulting file as the stripped master file.

Alternatively, if a page contains a lot of formatting information (i.e. tabs, fonts, etc.), a rich text file (which includes such formatting information) may be created offline from the database. The text box may then open the rich text file and read the information from the file. The use of the rich text file speeds up the processing time.

Also, once a placeholder on a page has been "filled in" with information from the database field, the program may mark the corresponding text or image box as "touched." Thus, if the text or image box is "untouched," the program can skip processing of that text or image box, also speeding up the total processing time.

Control also bypasses the blocks 194-202 and proceeds directly from the block 192 to the block 206 if the block 192 determines that there are no text boxes in the open template file.

Following the block 210, a block 212 converts the stripped master file into the PDL master page file 122 of FIG. 5. At the same time, an initialization (or INI) file may be created. The format and existence of the INI file depends on the type of demand printer utilized. For example, the DocuPrint demand printer does not require the use of an INI file. However, the Barco RIP requires the use of an INI file.

The INI file (in ASCII code) for the Barco RIP is created according to the following format:

name: [file path\name]

psx: [dimension]

psy: [dimension]

ssx: [dimension]

ssy: [dimension]

posx: [dimension]

posy: [dimension]

duplex: [zero or one]

orientation: [zero or one]

output: [filename]

copies: [number]

Where "psx" and "psy" refer to finished page sizes in x and y directions, "ssx" and "ssy" refer to cut sheet size in x and y directions, "rposx" and "posy" refer to offsets in x and y directions specifying placement of each page on a cut sheet, "duplex" refers to single or two-sided printing, "orientation" refers to portrait or landscape printing, "output" refers to the name of the output file and "Icopies" refers to the number of copies to be printed. A sample INI file which specifies parameters for printing of a file called MYJOB.PS is as follows:

Name: C:jobsmyjob.ps

psx: 8000

psy: 11000

ssx: 11500

ssy: 9000

posx: 150

posy: 150

duplex: 1

orientation: 1

output: myjob.ps

copies: 1

In the foregoing example, one copy of the file MYJOB.PS is to be printed in duplex and portrait formats at an offset of 0.15×0.15 inches from a corner of a finished sheet of paper 8×11 inches cut from a sheet originally having dimensions of 9×11.5 inches.

For the DocuPrint (or any other demand printer which does not use an INI file), a queue is created which contains the same parameters (and potentially additional parameters which may invoke the functionality of an in-line finisher, or other apparatus) as the INI file.

Following the block 212, a block 214 then reopens the same template file originally opened by the block 170 and deletes all the master image and text boxes. A block 216 than saves the resulting file as the stripped variable file 126 of FIG. 5.

A block 218 then creates a temporary file containing a table of the current page number and a number representing the name of the database field placed by the block 154 at the insertion point. The file is called, for example, *.VARS (where * is a user-selected file name). The *.VARS file thus contains pairs of page numbers and database column numbers that indicate where in the database variable information for the page comes from. For example, the *.VARS file may contain the following information:

    ______________________________________                                                   1            7                                                                 8           43                                                                 9           44                                                                10           45                                                                11           46                                                                11           47                                                                13           50                                                                14           52                                                                15           50                                                                15           51                                                       ______________________________________                                    

In the example above, page 1 contains variable data from column 7 of the database, page 8 contains variable data from column 43 and page 11 contains variable data from column 46 and 47. Further, the *.VARS file may contain separate pairings for images and text.

Control then passes to block 242 (FIG. 10c) which creates a working copy of the stripped variable file 126. A first page having variable data thereon is selected and data representing the remaining pages in the file are deleted by a block 244. In the example of FIGS. 6a and 6b, the block 244 creates a file defining the front cover of a book with all fixed information deleted therefrom and an area reserved for variable information.

Following the block 244, a block 246 selects a first record in the database 108 and a block 248 reads the record. An optional block 250 checks to determine whether a selective processing code has been entered by the user indicating that the page is to undergo selective page processing. As noted above, the apparatus and method of the present invention may be utilized to produce not only books of a single version (i.e., where corresponding pages differ only in terms of the variable information stored in the database) but also books of different versions. In the latter case, the books of different versions have different fixed and variable information. The fixed and/or variable information may vary in terms of content or appearance (i.e., style, location, rotation, position, etc.) or both in different versions.

If the block 250 determines that selective page processing is to be undertaken, then a block 252 checks to determine whether the database record read by the block 248 is to be utilized on the page currently under consideration. The block 252 accomplishes this by checking the version identification field in the database to determine if that version is being used. If this is not the case, a block 253 checks to determine whether the record currently under consideration is the last in the database. If so, control passes to a block 294 of FIG. 10e. Otherwise, a block 254 selects a next record in the database 108 and control returns to the block 248 where the next database record is read.

If the block 250 determines that selective page processing is not to be undertaken, or if the block 252 determines that the record read by the block 248 is to be used in the page currently under consideration, a block 256 duplicates the data representing the page remaining after execution by the block 244 to initiate development of one of the files 130 or 132. In the first pass through the program of FIG. 10c, and in connection with the example of FIGS. 6a and 6b, the block 256 creates the file 130 and develops page data representing a first version of the page P1-a and adds further variable information to such page data during immediately succeeding passes through the program. Thereafter, data representing the remaining pages P1-b, P1-c and P4-a through P4-c are created and variable information is added to such pages serially during subsequent passes.

A block 258 checks to determine whether there are any image boxes on the page and, if so, a block 260 selects a first image box. A block 262 then inserts the image identified by the database field into the image box. A block 264, FIG. 10d, checks the subname to determine whether the block 162 of FIG. 9 has indicated that the image should be sized to fit the image box. If this is true, a block 266 performs the scaling. Otherwise, a block 268 positions the image in the image box at the position specified by the user and a block 270 checks to determine whether all image boxes have been processed. Control also passes from the block 266 directly to the block 270, thereby skipping the block 268. If not all image boxes have been processed, a block 272 selects a next image box on the page and control returns to the blocks 262-270 so that remaining image boxes are serially processed.

Once the block 270 determines that all image boxes have been processed, or immediately following the block 258 of FIG. 10c if no image boxes are found on the page, a block 274 checks to determine whether there are any text boxes on the page and, if so, a pair of blocks 276, 278 select a first text box and a first insertion point in such box. Blocks 280, 282 and 284 serially insert text data stored in the database 108 at the appropriate insertion points in the text box. Once all of the variable text data have been inserted into the text box, a block 286 recomposes all text in the text box so that the text obtains a neat finished appearance. The recomposition process is automatically undertaken by the QuarkXPress® program once the variable information is inserted into each text box. The recomposition process is responsive to the user commands as applied to the template file text box or object, such as left, right, center, or full justification, hyphenation and the like. Following the block 286, a block 288, FIG. 10e, checks to determine whether there are remaining text boxes to be processed on the page and, if so, a block 290 selects the next text box on the page and control returns to the blocks 278-288 to insert text information into such text boxes.

Once the block 288 determines that all text boxes for the page have been processed, the programming required to produce one of the pages of the file 134 of FIG. 5 having variable information only thereon is complete. A block 292 then determines whether all records in the database have been considered for inclusion in additional variable pages of the file 134 to be produced. If not all records have been considered, control returns to the block 254, FIG. 10c, where the next database record is identified and read. On the other hand, if all pages of the file 134 have been produced by considering all records in the database 108, a block 294 converts the file data into PostScript® or another PDL format to create the variable page file 137 of FIG. 5. Also, an INI file is created as before, except that the "duplex" or "twinplex" parameter is set to command simplex printing only. If necessary or desirable, should the press run length exceed a certain limit, the programming may be modified to create more than one variable page file for each variable page of the template file.

Following the block 294, a block 296 checks to determine whether there are other variable pages in the stripped variable page file to be processed. If this is true, a block 298 retrieves a copy of the stripped variable file, selects the next variable page therein and deletes remaining pages therefrom. Control then returns to the block 246 of FIG. 10c. In the example of FIGS. 6a and 6b, the back cover P4 and the corresponding pages of the remaining books are now selected for processing. In the fashion noted above, a file representing the variable portions of such pages is produced by developing the file representing the pages P4-a through P4-c and inserting the database information into such file to obtain the variable page file 136 and the PDL version 138.

Following generation of the variable page files 134, 136, and 137, 138 control passes to a block 300 which checks to determine whether a press command file has already been created. (As used herein, "press command file" refers to any file or combination of files that is used to control a demand printer or electronic press.) If not, a file is created by a block 302 having placeholder comments indicating where in the press command file individual press commands are to be placed for each book to be produced. The press command file may also include data from one or more fields of the database 108 identifying an intended recipient of each book to be produced to assist in reproducing books found to be defective or to produce sample books. At this point, the press command file for the example of FIGS. 6a and 6b may be as follows (using data from the sample database set out above):

;RECORD1

;:WILLIAM DOE:606248923

;ENDRECORD

;RECORD2

:HUGH JORGENSEN:606248923

;END RECORD

;RECORD3

;:JAY P. MORGAN:606248924

;END RECORD

Following the block 300 (if the press command file already exists) or the block 302 a block 304 selects the first database record and a corresponding first record in the press command file. A block 306 then checks to determine whether the template file currently being processed includes the selected database record. If not, a block 308 determines whether all pages have been processed, and if this is not the case, the next record in the database 108 and a corresponding record in the press command file are selected. Control then returns to the block 306. If the block 306 ascertains that the template file includes the selected record, a block 312 inserts an indication of the section number in the press command file at an appropriate point if the section number is not already present. If the section number is present already, the press command identified by the section number entered by the user at the block 176 is identified to be overwritten at a later point. The press command file now appears as follows for the example of FIGS. 6a and 6b:

;RECORD1

;:WILLIAM DOE:606248923

;SECTION 1

;ENDSECTION

;ENDRECORD

;RECORD2

;:HUGH JORGENSEN:6062488923

;SECTION 1

ENDSECTION

;END RECORD

.RECORD3

;:JAY P. MORGAN:606248924

;SECTION 1

;END SECTION

;END RECORD

Following the block 312, a block 314, FIG. 10f, selects a first page of the section and a block 316 checks the state of a flag stored in the memory 53 to determine whether a simplex or duplex job has been requested. If a simplex job has been requested, the file name and page number of the master page file and, if variable information is to appear on the page, the file name and page number of the variable page file for the selected page are stored as a single set pair in the memory 53 by a block 318. The determination of whether variable information is to appear on the selected page is accomplished by summing the contents of the variable image box counter and the variable text box counter as incremented by the blocks 220 and 234 of FIG. 10b.

A block 320 checks to determine whether all pages have been processed and, if not, the next page is selected by a block 322 and control returns to the block 316 for processing of such page. If all pages have been processed, control passes to a block 324 which determines whether all database and press command records have been processed. Control also passes to the block 324 if the lock 308 determines that all pages have been processed. If not all records have been processed at this point, control returns to the block 310 where the next records in the database and press command file are selected.

If the block 324 determines that all records for the current section have been processed, a block 326 determines whether another section is to be processed and, if so, control returns to the block 170 of FIG. 10a. If there is not another section to be processed, the press command file has been fully assembled, and hence the process terminates.

If the block 316 determines that a duplex job is to be effected, control passes to a block 328 which stores in the memory 53 a command identifying the file names and page numbers of the master page file (as well as corresponding information relative to variable page files, if variable information is to appear) as two-set pairs. Control from the block 328 then passes to the block 320 described above.

The result of the programming of FIGS. 10a-10f is a press command file having a sequence of press commands which cause printing of pages in a desired order. In order to print the sample pages of FIGS. 6a and 6b, the press command file would read as follows:

BOOK A

;RECORD1

;:WILLIAM DOE:606248923

;SECTION 1

"file.m"1@"file.v1"1|"file.m"2

"file.m"3|"file.m"4@"file.v4"1

;ENDSECTION

;ENDRECORD

;RECORD2

;:HUGH JORGENSEN:606248923

;SECTION 1

"file-m"1@"file.v1"2|"file.m"2

"file.m"3|"file.m"4@"file.v4"2

;ENDSECTION

;ENDRECORD

;RECORD3

;:JAY P. MORGAN:606248924

;SECTION 1

"file.m"1@"file.v1"3|"file.m"2

"file.m"3|"file.m"4@"file.v4"3

;ENDSECTION

;ENDRECORD

ENDBOOK

PRINTRUN R

BOOK A

ENDPRINTRUN

In the foregoing example, "file.m" is a file name identifying the master page file 122 and "file.v1" and "file.v4" are file names identifying the variable page files 137 and 138, respectively. The number following each file name designates a particular page of the file identified by the file name. Thus, for example, "file.m"1 designates the first page of the master file "file.m" and "file.v1"2 designates the second page of the variable page file "file.v1." The @ sign means to associate the pages of the files linked by such sign (i.e. overlay the variable pages on the master pages). The vertical line in the commands indicates that the page(s) on the left side of the vertical line are to be printed on the front side of a piece of paper whereas the page(s) on the right side of the vertical line are to be printed on the reverse side of the piece of paper. In an example of simplex printing, no file name would appear to the right of the vertical line in each command.

On-Demand Fulfillment

The "on-demand fulfillment" of the present invention, which generally involves manipulation of the database and press command (or "book ticket") files, is most easily illustrated through example. In our example, each of three insurance clients (Jim, Mark, and Pete) are to receive customized benefits statements (which contain variable information). Due to the location of their residences, Jim, Mark, and Pete are eligible for various insurance packages. Specifically, Jim is eligible for package A, Mark and Jim are eligible for package B, and Pete is eligible for package D. Each insurance package (i.e., A, B, and D) has a brochure describing the relevant insurance plan. These brochures are to be sent as fulfillment pieces with the custom benefits statements to those eligible for the specific packages. Therefore, in addition to their custom benefits statements, Jim will be sent brochures A and B, Mark will be sent brochure B, and Pete will be sent brochure D. The fulfillment piece brochures A, B, and D may contain customized or variable information or may contain only static information. Fulfillment pieces can also be paginated "on the fly" so that the same fulfillment piece for two clients can have a different number of pages.

The insurance company provides an original database of client names and addresses, a sample of which is set forth below. (The database may also contain additional fields containing variable information.)

    ______________________________________                                         Original Database                                                                     Xname       Xaddress                                                    ______________________________________                                                Jim         123 Easy St.                                                       Mark        234 Grove St.                                                      Pete        345 Lucky Ln.                                               ______________________________________                                    

The insurance company also has files representing the benefits statements and fulfillment brochures to be reproduced and sent. Preferably, these are produced by page-layout software, such as QuarkXPress®. A representative list of files is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Piece                 File Name                                                ______________________________________                                         Customized Benefits   Benefits                                                 Statement                                                                      Brochure A            BfileA                                                   Brochure B            BfileB                                                   Brochure D            BfileD                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The present invention discloses four different methods of accomplishing the reproduction of the appropriate books and fulfillment pieces in mailing order.

Fulfillment Method #1

The first fulfillment method is preferably used when the fulfillment pieces include variable information. The first method modifies the original database by: (1) adding a record (row) for each piece (e.g., benefits statement or brochure) that a person is to receive; and (2) adding a column corresponding to the file names of the files that represent the pieces each person is to receive. The added column may be called, for example, "Xversion". The modified database of the first method is essentially a combination of the original database and the file list provided by the insurance company.

Referring to the modified database below, Jim would have three records because he will be sent his benefits statement and brochures A and B. Therefore, in the third column of the first record for Jim, the name of the file representing Jim's benefits package would appear. Likewise, in the third column of second and third records for Jim the names of the files representing brochures A and B would appear, respectively.

    ______________________________________                                         Modified Database                                                              Xname        Xaddress         Xversion                                         ______________________________________                                         Jim          123 Easy St.     Benefits                                         Jim          123 Easy St.     BfileA                                           Jim          123 Easy St.     BfileB                                           Mark         234 Grove St.    Benefits                                         Mark         234 Grove St.    BfileB                                           Pete         345 Lucky Ln.    Benefits                                         Pete         345 Lucky Ln.    BfileD                                           ______________________________________                                    

The step of modifying the database would occur between blocks 172 and 173 of FIG. 10a. After the original database and the appropriate filenames have been merged into the modified database, the pages are processed in accordance with the flowchart of FIGS. 10a-10f. Thus, in our example, all Benefits books will be processed, then all BfileA books will be processed, then BfileB books, then BfileD books. At the time the press command file is created, the books are resorted into distribution or mailing order.

Fulfillment Method #2

The second fulfillment method is preferably used when the fulfillment pieces contain only static information. Like the first method, the second method also creates a modified database from the original database. The modified database is a version of the original database with an additional number of columns equal to the maximum number of fulfillment pieces a person can receive. The columns are filled in with the file names of the fulfillment pieces each person is to receive.

In our example, the maximum number of fulfillment pieces, in addition to the benefits statement, that can be received is three and, consequently, three columns are added to the database. The modified database is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Modified Database                                                              Xname    Xaddress     Xful1    Xful2   Xful3                                   ______________________________________                                         Jim      123 Easy St. BfileA   BfileB                                          Mark     234 Grove St.                                                                               BfileB                                                   Pete     345 Lucky Ln.                                                                               BfileD                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Like in the first method, the database is modified between the blocks 172 and 174 of FIG. 10a. The database dictates the files that need to be processed to create a press command file representative of the print job.

The press command files representing the fulfillment pieces (assuming the pieces contain no variable information) are as follows:

BfileA

;Book

"MasterBfileA"1.linevert split."MasterBfileA"2

"MasterBfileA"3.linevert split."MasterBfileA"4

"MasterBfileA"5.linevert split."MasterBfileA"6

"MasterBfileA"7.linevert split."MasterBfileA"8

BfileB

;Book

"MasterBfileB"1.linevert split."MasterBfileB"2

"MasterBfileB"3.linevert split."MasterBfileB"4

"MasterBfileB"5.linevert split."MasterBfileB"6

"MasterBfileB"7.linevert split."MasterBfileB"8

BfileD

;Book

"MasterBfileD"1.linevert split."MasterBfileD"2

"MasterBfileD"3.linevert split."MasterBfileD"4

"MasterBfileD"5.linevert split."MasterBfileD"6

"MasterBfileD"7.linevert split."MasterBfileD"8

The press command files for the custom benefits statements for Jim, Mark, and Pete can be represented as follows:

Benefits

;Jim

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"2

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"2

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"2

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"2

;End Record

;Mark

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"3

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"3

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"3

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"3

;End Record

;Pete

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"4

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"4

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"4

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"4

;End Record

The second method combines the press command files for the fulfillment pieces with the press command files for the benefits statements into a single press command file. This is accomplished by evaluating the modified database and concatenating the proper press command files. Specifically, the first record in the database is "Jim"; thus, the method copies the press commands related to "Jim" from the "Benefits" press command file into a new press command file. The record for Jim in the database shows that he will receive brochure A (BfileA) and brochure B (BfileB). The method thus appends the press command files for BfileA and BfileB to the new press command file containing the information for Jim.

The method then proceeds to the second record (Mark) and repeats the copy process, appending the information to the new press command file that already contains Jim's information. A sample completed press command file is shown below.

Jim

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"2

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"2

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"2

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"2

"MasterBfileA"1.linevert split."MasterBfileA"2

"MasterBfileA"3.linevert split."MasterBfileA"4

"MasterBfileA"5.linevert split."MasterBfileA"6

"MasterBfileA"7.linevert split."MasterBfileA"8

"MasterBfileB"1.linevert split."MasterBfileB"2

"MasterBfileB"3.linevert split."MasterBfileB"4

"MasterBfileB"5.linevert split."MasterBfileB"6

"MasterBffleB"7.linevert split."MasterBfileB"8

;End Record

;Mark

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"3

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"3

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"3

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"3

"MasterBfileB"1.linevert split."MasterBfileB"2

"MasterBfileB"3.linevert split."MasterBfileB"4

"MasterBfileB"5.linevert split."MasterBfileB"6

"MasterBfileB"7.linevert split."MasterBfileB"8

;End Record

;Pete

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"4

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"4

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"4

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"4

"MasterBfileD"1.linevert split."MasterBfileD"2

"MasterBfileD"3.linevert split."MasterBfileD"4

"MasterBfileD"5.linevert split."MasterBfileD"6

"MasterBfileD"7.linevert split."MasterBfileD"8

;End Record

The benefits statement and fulfillment brochures will be produced in the correct distribution/mailing order, as dictated by the new press command file. Assuming the fulfillment pieces contain only static information, the files corresponding to the pieces only have to be interpreted (RIPped) one time, resulting in faster processing time. Additionally, the fulfillment brochures can be produced as separate booklets or can be attached to the benefits statement.

Fulfillment Method #3

The third method is preferably used when the fulfillment pieces contain variable information. This method modifies the original database to create a number of smaller databases that contain information for printing the customized benefits packages and the customized fulfillment brochures.

Each modified database corresponds to a component of the job that will be produced. Thus, in our example, four modified databases are created--one for the benefits statement, and one for each of the three fulfillment brochures. Each database contains a record (or row) for each person that will receive that piece. The number of columns in each database is dependent on the variable information needed to complete the customized piece. For example, if brochure A includes one variable field (such as the amount of money spent by the client on medical services), one additional column (called, for example, "XDollars") is necessary to provide the variable dollar information. If brochure B includes two variable fields (such as the dollar amount and the name of the benefits advisor), two additional columns are added (called, for example, "XDollarst" and "XAdvisor").

Each record in each database has a unique identification number. Each modified database also contains a column (called, for example, "XUniqueID") which contains the appropriate corresponding identification number. As set forth below, this identification field is used to generate the press command files to reproduce the pieces in correct distribution order. The identification number may also be used to reorder selected pieces and is customizable depending on the application.

The modified databases for the benefits statements and the fulfillment brochures in our example are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Modified Database For Benefits                                                 Xname  Xaddress   XuniqueID                                                    ______________________________________                                         Jim    123 Easy St.                                                                              0001                                                         Mark   234 Grove St.                                                                             0002                                                         Pete   345 Lucky Ln.                                                                             0003                                                         ______________________________________                                         Modified Database For Brochure A (BfileA)                                      Xname  Xaddress   XuniqueID  XDollars                                          ______________________________________                                         Jim    123 Easy St.                                                                              0001       134.50                                            ______________________________________                                         Modified Database For Brochure B (BfileB)                                      Xname  Xaddress   XuniqueID  XAdvisor                                                                              XDollars                                   ______________________________________                                         Jim    123 Easy St.                                                                              0001       Dr. Jones                                                                             134.50                                     Mark   234 Grove St.                                                                             0002       Dr. Pepper                                                                            132.75                                     ______________________________________                                         Modified Database For Brochure D (BfileD)                                      Xname  Xaddress   XuniqueID                                                    ______________________________________                                         Pete   345 Lucky Ln.                                                                             0003                                                         ______________________________________                                    

When a job is processed, separate press command files are created for the benefit book and each fulfillment piece. The third fulfillment method then creates a new press command file by combining the information from the previously generated press command files.

The new press command file is created by associating the identification number fields ("XuniqueID") in each modified database. Specifically, the method searches through the identification numbers of all records in the controlling database in a sorted order set forth by the controlling database, which in this example is the benefits book. This method correlates the benefits database to the, the BfileA database, the BfileB database, and the BfileD database, respectively. For example, on the first pass through the correlating subroutine, all records pertaining to Jim (XuniqueID 0001) are found.

Each time the proper identification number is found in a particular database, the press command file information corresponding to that entry or ID is buffer-copied into the new press command file. After assimilating all databases by copying the relevant information, the new press command file will contain the information as shown below:

;Jim:0001

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"2

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"2

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"2

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"2.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"2

End Record

;Jim:0001

;Begin Record

"MasterBfileA"1@"VariableA.V01"2.linevert split."MasterBfileA"2@"VariableA.V02"2

"MasterBfileA"3@"VariableA.V03"2.linevert split."MasterBfileA"4@"VariableA.V04"2

"MasterBfileA"5@"VariableA.V05"2.linevert split."MasterBfileA"6@"VariableA.V06"2

"MasterBfileA"7@"VariableA.V07"2.linevert split."MasterBfileA"8@"VariableA.V08"2

;End Record

;Jim:0001

;Begin Record

"MasterBfileB"1@"VariableA.V01"2.linevert split."MasterBfileB"2@"VariableA.V02"2

"MasterBfileB"3@"VariableA.V03"2.linevert split."MasterBfileB"4@"VariableA.V04"2

"MasterBfileB"5@"VariableA.V05"2.linevert split."MasterBffleB"6@"VariableA.V06"2

"MasterBfileB"7@"VariableA.V07"2.linevert split."MasterBfileB"8@"VariableA.V08"2

;End Record

;Mark:0002

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"VariableB.V01"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"VariableB.V02"3

"MasterQxP"3@"VariableB.V03"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"VariableB.V04"3

"MasterQxP"5@"VariableB.V05"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"VaiiableB.V06"3

"MasterQxP"7@"VariableB.V07"3.linevert split."MasterQxP"8"VatiableB.V08"3

;End Record

;Mark:0002

;Begin Record

"MasterBfileB"1@"VariableB.V01"3.linevert split."MasterBfileB"2@"VariableB.V02"3

"MasterBfileB"3@"VariableB.V03"3.linevert split."MasterBfileB"4@"VariableB.V04"3

"MasterBfileB"5@"VariableB.V05"3.linevert split."MasterBfileB"6@"VariableB.V06"3

"MasterBfileB"7@"VariableB.V07"3.linevert split."MasterBfileB"8@"VariableB.V08"3

;End Record

;Pete:0003

;Begin Record

"MasterQxP"1@"Variable.V01"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"2@"Variable.V02"4

"MasterQxP"3@"Variable.V03"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"4@"Variable.V04"4

"MasterQxP"5@"Variable.V05"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"6@"Variable.V06"4

"MasterQxP"7@"Variable.V07"4.linevert split."MasterQxP"8@"Variable.V08"4

;Pete:0003

;Begin Record

"MasterBfileD"1@"VariableD.V01"2.linevert split."MasterBfileD"2@"VariableD.V02"2

"MasterBfileD"3@"VariableD.V03"2.linevert split."MasterBfileD"4@"VariableD.V04"2

"MasterBfileD"5@"VariableD.V05"2.linevert split."MasterBfileD"6@"VariableD.V06"2

"MasterBfileD"7@"VariableD.V07"2.linevert split."MasterBfileD"8@"VariableD.V08"2

;End Record

As in the second method, the benefits statement and fulfillment brochures will be produced in the correct distribution/mailing order. Also, the fulfillment brochures can be produced as separate booklets or can be attached to the benefits statement.

Fulfillment Method #4 (Inserted During Imposition)

The fourth fulfillment method uses the imposition procedures ("GetTiff Imposition" or "Imposition-on-the-Fly"), which are described in detail below. Generally, the fourth method treats each fulfillment page as a full page variable image and modifies the database to include the fulfillment pages to be inserted. Thus, the fulfillment pages are treated as additional pages to form a complete book and are automatically imposed into the book. This method is preferably used when the fulfillment pieces contain variable information and when the fulfillment pieces are to be bound into a book, rather than treated as separate pieces.

Referring to our example, the customized benefits statement to be provided to Jim, Mark and Pete is preferably stored in a QuarkXPress® file called "Benefits." We will assume that each brochure (A, B & D) includes four pages and each page includes variable (customized) information. Preferably, each page of the brochures were generated in QuarkXPress® and stored in EPS (Encapsulated PostScript®) format. The files for the brochure pages may be referred to as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Brochure A     Brochure B                                                                               Brochure D                                            ______________________________________                                         BfileA.1       BfileB.1  BfileD.1                                              BfileA.2       BfileB.2  BfileD.2                                              BfileA.3       BfileB.3  BfileD.3                                              BfileA.4       BfileB.4  BfileD.4                                              ______________________________________                                    

If a person is to receive all three fulfillment brochures, that person would receive twelve (12) additional pages (assuming the four pages per brochure). The maximum number of fulfillment pages is 12, therefore, 12 additional pages are added to the Benefits file. (Of course, if it is known that a person will only receive a maximum of two fulfillment brochures, then only 8 additional pages need to be added to the Benefits book.) After the required number of pages are added to the Benefits file, a full page named image box is added to each page. The name of each image box would correspond to the column names in the database that will store the fulfillment page information. For example, the first page image box could be named "XFPage1," the second page "XFPage2," the third page "XFPage3," etc.

Next, the database is modified by: (1) adding columns corresponding to the maximum number of fulfillment pages; (2) naming the columns in accordance with the named image boxes; and (3) filling in the database fields with the file names associated with the fulfillment pages. The (partial) modified database is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         XName  Xaddress   XFPage1   XFPage2                                                                               . . .                                                                               XFPage12                               ______________________________________                                         Jim    123 Easy St.                                                                              BfileA.1  BfileA.2                                                                              . . .                                       Mark   234 Grove St.                                                                             BfileB.1  BfileB.2                                                                              . . .                                       Pete   345 Lucky Ln.                                                                             BfileD.1  BfileD.2                                                                              . . .                                       ______________________________________                                    

Referring to FIG. 11, when generating the instruction set specifying which pages should be printed and how the pages should be positioned (or imposed) for printing, the fulfillment pages are taken into account. Thus, the fulfillment pages are processed (and imposed) as if they were part of the book.

Furthermore, this method may be used with any other aspects of imposition on-the-fly, such as left/right page orientation, page numbering, sheets bar coding, or the like.

Imposition Procedures

FIG. 11 illustrates the programming implemented by the control unit 52 to generate a page description language instruction set specifying which pages should be printed and how the pages should be positioned (or imposed) for printing. The page description language instruction set may be incorporated into the press command file 140 or may be provided as a separate file to the print system 79. For purposes of illustration, the page description language instruction set is written in Postscript® in the format dictated by the Xerox DocuPrint printer. Further, the instruction set is directed to books printed in "saddle stitch" imposition format (i.e. 2 pages on each side of sheet) as explained in connection with FIGS. 6-8. It is understood, however, that the invention could easily be modified for use with a different demand printer (i.e. the Xeikon Barco printer) and/or imposition format (i.e. 4 pages on each side of sheet).

Referring to FIG. 11, the programming begins at a block 340 which prompts a user to specify certain information to be used to paginate the book. A variable ("MAXPGS") representing the maximum number of supplied pages that may or may not be assembled into a single book during the job is specified together with the identification of filler page(s) that may or may not be printed and assembled at the end of a book either on a left-hand or a right-hand portion thereof. Also, the user is prompted to specify for each page whether such page will be forced to be on the left side of a book, the right side of a book or will not be forced to a particular book side. In the event a page is to be forced to a side, the user is prompted to specify the page file name and page number for a filler page to precede the forced page. Still further, the user is prompted to specify for each page whether such page is:

1) A Master Page--contains the same information and is included in every book;

2) An Always Variable Page--may contain variable information and is included in every book; or

3) A Selectively Variable Page--contains variable information and is selectively included in certain books.

In so specifying the foregoing, the user creates a pagination file (called, for example, *.PAG, where * indicates a file name selected by the a user). A sample window generated by the block 340 to prompt a user for the information needed to create the pagination file is shown in FIG. 12.

Referring again to FIG. 11, following the block 340, a block 342 opens the press command file 140 and a block 344 selects the appropriate database files, including the variable information file (*.VARS), the pagination file (*.PAG), and (optionally) a barcode file. As set forth above, the *.VARS file is a temporary file of pairs of page numbers and database column numbers that indicate where in the database variable information for the page comes from.

The barcode file is a page description language file (for example, a PostScript® file) which contains instructions for printing the sequential page numbers and/or a tracking bar code on the pages of the completed book. The barcode file will be explained in detail below.

The programming then proceeds to the loop containing blocks 346, 348, 350, 352 and 354. The block 346 takes each record (or book) in the press command file 140 in sequential order. For each record, the block 348 determines which pages should be printed to generate that particular book. Next, the block 350 determines whether the pages to be printed should be forced to the right hand or left hand side of the book and the block 352 "pads" the pages to be printed to be a multiples of the number of pages to be printed on a sheet (in our example, 4) by adding appropriate filler pages. Next, the block 354 generates the Postscript® instruction set and the programming returns to the block 346 to retrieve the next record in the press command file 140. The loop repeats for each record in the press command file 140.

FIG. 13 illustrates in detail the programming steps implemented by the block 348 of FIG. 11, which determines which pages should be printed for a particular record in the press command file 140. A block 360 first retrieves the first page in the record. A decision-making block 362 then determines whether the page is from a new file that is to be "imposed-on-the-fly with offsets." (Imposition-on-the-fly with offsets is one of the imposition formats of the present invention, which will be explained in detail below). If yes, a block 364 calculates and saves the offsets for all the pages in the file. After the block 364 calculates and saves the offsets or if the block 362 is false, a decision-making block 366 then determines whether the page is a master page (i.e. does not include any variable information placeholders). If the page is a master page, the page should always be printed and a block 368 "marks" the page to be printed. The block 368 may "mark" the page by adding it to a page print array. The page print array contains the page number and a marker to indicate the disposition of the page. For example, pages that should not be printed are designated with a "0"; master pages (always printed) are designated with a "1"; and variable pages to be printed are designated with a "2".

If the block 366 determines that the page is not a master page (i.e. it's a variable page), a decision-making block 370 determines whether the variable page should be printed at all times. (This was designated by the user at the block 340 in FIG. 11 during creation of the pagination file). If yes, the block 368 marks the page to be printed. If no, a decision-making block 372 determines whether the page has any variable placeholders with valid data. In other words, the block 372 determines whether there is any variable information from the database to be printed on the page. If yes, the block 368 marks the page for printing. The program then returns to the block 360 to retrieve the next page from the record until all the appropriate pages have been marked for printing.

FIG. 14 illustrates in detail the programming steps implemented by the block 350 of FIG. 11 to determine whether the pages should be forced to the left or right hand side of the book. A block 380 first initializes a left/right (L/R) counter variable to its default value of right because it is assumed that the first page of the book will be one the right side. Next, a block 382 retrieves the first page from the record that is marked "should print" and a block 384 determines whether the user has specified whether the page should be forced to the left or right side. (This was designated by the user during creation of the pagination file at block 340 of FIG. 11). If the user has not specified that the page should be forced, a block 386 flip-flops the L/R counter such that if it was set to right it is changed to left and if it was set to left, it is changed to right and the program returns to the block 382 to retrieve the next "should print" page in the record.

Alternatively, if the block 384 determines that the user has specified that the page should be forced left or right, a block 388 determines whether the user specification matches the orientation of the page (i.e. is it the same as the L/R counter). If yes, the block 386 flip-flops the L/R counter and returns to the block 382 to retrieve the next "should print" page in the record. Otherwise, a block 390 marks an appropriate filler page (which was identified by the user during creation of the pagination file) to be printed and the program returns to the block 382 to retrieve the next "should print" page in the record.

FIG. 15 illustrates in detail the programming steps implemented by the block 352 of FIG. 11 to "pad" the pages into a multiple of the number of pages to be printed on a sheet. In our example, using "saddle stitch" imposition, four pages are printed on a sheet (2 pages per side). Therefore, filler pages may need to be added to ensure that the total number of pages in the book is a multiple of 4. A block 392 first counts the number of pages in the record that have been marked to print. This includes all the master and variable pages that were marked by the block 368 of FIG. 13 as well as any filler pages that were marked by the block 390 of FIG. 14. Next, a block 394 determines whether the total number of pages is a multiple of 4. If not, a block 396 adds the appropriate number of filler pages to make the total number of pages a multiple of 4. For example, if the block 392 determines that 18 pages are marked to print, the block 396 will add 2 filler pages to make the total number of pages in the book equal to 20 (a multiple of four). The program then returns to the block 354 of FIG. 11 which generates the PostScript® instruction set.

The Postscript® instruction set specifies how the pages marked to print should be positioned (or imposed) for printing. In our example, for a "saddle-stitch" imposition format, and assuming a 12 page book, the block 354 generates an instruction specifying that the pages should be positioned as shown in the following table:

    ______________________________________                                         Sheet No. Side No.     Left Side                                                                               Right Side                                     ______________________________________                                         1         1             Page 12 Page 1                                         1         2            Page 2    Page 11                                       2         1             Page 10 Page 3                                         2         2            Page 4   Page 9                                         3         1            Page 8   Page 5                                         3         2            Page 6   Page 7                                         ______________________________________                                    

It is understood that a different instruction set could be generated (by an imposition program) to impose and print the pages in a different format (i.e. four pages per side) or alternatively, a different number of total pages.

After the block 354 generates the imposition instruction set, the pages are imposed and printed according to an imposition procedure of the present invention. The first imposition procedure of the present invention utilizes an artificial PostScript® operator called "GetTIFF", which is recognized by the Xerox DocuPrint RIP, wherein page files are preprocessed to TIFF ("tagged image file format") format before being provided to the RIP. The second imposition procedure of the present invention (referred to as "imposition-on-the-fly") involves downloading imposition programs to the RIP which redefine various PostScript® operators to automatically position pages while each page is a being interpreted.

A user is prompted to specify various information needed for imposition and printing, including the sheet size (i.e. 11×17), imposition style (imposition-on-the-fly or GetTIFF), finishing style (online or offline), the output device (i.e. Xerox DocuPrint or Barco Xeikon) and the name of the directory where the master and variable page files are stored. A sample window to prompt a user to provide this information is shown in FIG. 16.

GetTIFF Imposition

A TIFF (tagged image file format) file is a bitmap representation of a page in the same screen format as the print engine. Several commercially available RIPs (such as Image Alchemy PS or TranverterPro) process pages represented in a page description language format to TIFF format. The Xerox DocuPrint RIP recognizes an artificial PostScript® operator called "GetTIFF" which retrieves a specified TIFF file and quickly processes the file for rendering by the DocuPrint demand printer. (Other demand printer RIPs, including the Barco Xeikon, may also be modified to recognize a GetTIFF-type operator).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the master page PDL files 122 and the variable page PDL files 137, 138 are preprocessed to TIFF format. Because the Xerox DocuPrint system allows for only one input data stream (as opposed to the Barco Xeikon system which allows two data streams--master and variable), the master page PDL files 122 and the variable page PDL files 137, 138 may be premerged. This may be accomplished by forcing all of the master data onto the variable template files. After the master and variable pages are merged, the instruction set and GetTIFF operator are used to quickly impose and process the pages for printing.

Alternatively, the master and variable data streams may be overlayed by first processing the master pages and then overlaying the variable pages onto the master pages.

FIG. 17 illustrates programming which may be executed to facilitate conversion of the page files into TIFF format. The programming begins at a block 397 which opens the press command file stored in the memory 53. A block 398 then prompts a user to specify options which are available. The options include the ability to convert only master page files, only variable page files or both master and variable page files into bitmap format. A block 399 then selects the first line in the press command file having at least one file name therein. Thereafter, a block 400 selects a first file name and a block 401 checks a file list stored in the memory 53 to see if the file name has been previously placed in the list. If this is not the case, then this is the first time the file name has been encountered in the programming of FIG. 17. Thus, a block 402 adds the file name to the file list and a block 403 checks the user-specified options set by the block 398 to determine whether the file should be converted into TIFF format. If so, a RIP list stored in the memory 53 is updated by adding the file name thereto (block 404) and control passes to a block 405. Control also passes to the block 405 from the block 403 (bypassing the block 404) if the file is not to be converted into TIFF format, and from the block 401 if the file name currently under consideration is already in the file list.

The block 405 checks to determine whether the end of the current line in the press command file has been reached. If not, a block 406 selects the next file name in the line and control returns to the block 401.

If the block 405 determines that the end of the current line in the press command file has been reached, a block 407 checks to determine whether the end of the press command file has been reached. If not, a block 408 selects the next line in the press command file having at least one file name and control returns to the block 400. On the other hand, if the end of the file has been reached, a block 409 causes the RIP 82 (or another RIP) to convert the files identified in the RIP list into TIFF format.

The programming of FIG. 17 thus facilitates conversion of files to TIFF format as required by the print system 79.

Referring to FIG. 18, if the user specified GetTIFF imposition and after the page files have been RIPped to TIFF format by the programming of FIG. 17, a block 410 retrieves the first page pairing from the instruction set (in our example, page 12 as the left hand page and page 1 as the right hand page). A block 412 then retrieves a reference to the page description of the left hand page in TIFF format from the page file and provides it to the RIP 82. Assuming the default offset is positioned at the left side of the sheet, the left hand page is positioned on the left side of the sheet.

A block 414 then moves the offset to position the next page onto the right side of the sheet. A block 416 retrieves the reference to the page description in TIFF format of the right hand page from the page file and provides it to the RIP 82. Next, a block 418 may add page numbers and/or a bar tracking code to the sheet, as explained below. The program then returns to the block 410 to retrieve the next page pair from the instruction set and the program repeats until all pages and all books have been processed.

After all pages have been processed, they are RIPped and printed by the demand printer 84 in accordance with the initialization (INI) file, which was created by the block 212 (FIG. 10b).

If, for example, the demand printer is a DocuPrint (i.e., no INI file was created), the pages are submitted to the queue (which contains the same parameters as the INI file) for RIPping and printing.

A partial PostScript® instruction set for printing the 12-twelve page brochure in accordance with the table above implementing the GetTIFF imposition according to FIG. 18 is set forth below:

    ______________________________________                                         <<                                                                             /PageSize [1224 792]                                                                           % set sheet size                                               >> setpagedevice                                                                               % (11 × 17)                                              VERON12.V01.sub.-- dir/                                                                    % get left page                                                    VERON12.V01.00000002.tiff) GetTIFF                                             612 0 translate % move to right                                                VERON01.V01.sub.-- dir/                                                                    % get right page                                                   VERON01.V01.00000002.tiff) GetTIFF                                             showpage                                                                       (VERON02.M.sub.-- dir/                                                                     % get left page                                                    VERON02.M.00000002.tiff) GetTIFF                                               612 0 translate % move to right                                                (VERON11.V01.sub.-- dir/                                                                   % get right page                                                   VERON11.V01.00000002.tiff) GetTIFF                                             showpage                                                                       .                                                                              .                                                                              (VERON06.M.sub.-- dir/                                                                     % get left page                                                    VERON06.M.00000004.tiff) GetTiff                                               612 0 translate % move to right                                                (VERON07.V03.sub.-- dir/                                                                   % get right page                                                   VERON07.V03.00000003.tiff) GetTiff                                             showpage        % reset to left                                                ______________________________________                                    

In the instruction set, the "VERON*.*₋₋ dir/VERON*.*" indicates the directory and filename where the page descriptions are located. The suffix II.Me indicates a master page and the suffix ".V₋₋ " indicates a variable page (with the version number of the variable page to be printed). The suffix "₋₋ tiff" is the file name created by the RIP which converted the page files to TIFF files and indicates that the files are in TIFF format. The artificial PostScript® "GetTIFF" operator interprets the TIFF files. The "612 0 translate" command moves the offset to the right hand side of the sheet (block 414) and the PostScript® showpage operator transmits the page to the demand printer 84 for rendering, prepares for interpreting the next page description and resets the offset to the left hand side.

Optionally, the block 418 may print page numbers and/or a bar tracking code onto the sheets printed by the demand printer 84. This may be accomplished by adding the following additional PostScript® code before the showpage operator in the instruction set shown above:

    ______________________________________                                         /C39P24Dm 24 selectfont % add bar code info                                    30 4.5 sub 18 translate 90 rotate % position                                   on                                                                             0 0 moveto        % side of sheet                                              (1.12) show       % indicates sheet 1 of 12                                                      %                                                            /Helvetica 12 selectfont % add page numbers                                    320 780 moveto    % center in middle of left                                   page                                                                           (12) show         % print page "12"                                            -320 780 moveto   % center in middle of right                                  page                                                                           (1) show          % print page "1"                                             ______________________________________                                    

The first section of code provides the command for printing a bar code (indicating for example, the page number and the total number of pages in the book). The second section of the code prints page numbers centered at the bottom of each page. A similar technique could be used to do any "post page" modifications, such as watermarking samples or QC books, adding variable printers marks or the like.

Imposition-on-the-Fly

The user may also specify that the pages be imposed and printed using the imposition-on-the-fly technique of the present invention. This technique positions the pages while the pages are being interpreted by the RIP. FIG. 19 is a more detailed block diagram of the print system 79 shown in FIG. 4. The PDL master page files 122 and the PDL variable page files 137, 138 may be combined into merged PDL files (such as merged PostScript file(s) 450), which are then provided to the print system 79, comprised of RIP 82, collator 81, press controller 80 and demand printer 84. The press command file 140, which includes the instruction set for specifying how pages should be imposed, is also provided to the print system 79.

Alternatively, as described above, the master page files 122 and the variable page files 137, 138 may be provided separately to the print system 79 and overlayed.

The print system 79 may also include a raster memory 452 associated with the RIP 82 and the demand printer 84. The RIP 82 generates a raster description of the "current page" being interpreted, which may be stored in the raster memory 452 or provided to the demand printer 84 for rendering. The demand printer 84 physically renders pages 454 from the merged PostScript® file 450 onto a "flat" (or other medium) 456.

For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the RIP 82 interprets the widely used PostScript® PDL language. (PostScript® is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc.) The PostScript® language is fully described in the PostScript® Language Reference Manual, Second Edition (1990), from Adobe Systems, Inc., which is incorporated herein by reference. Certain imposition-on-the-fly procedures 454 according to the present invention are downloaded to the RIP 82. (The procedures 454 include, for example, ImposeJob, ImposeFile and various redefined PostScript® operators which are described in detail below). The imposition-on-the-fly procedures 454 will be used by the RIP 82 to process the instruction set and the page descriptions contained in the merged PostScript® files 450 to efficiently transmit pages for rendering by the demand printer 84. (For ease in illustration, it is assumed the master and variable page files were premerged into merged file 450. It is understood, however, that the master and variable page files could also be overlayed.)

PostScript® Background

In order to facilitate the explanation of imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention, some background regarding the PostScript® language is provided. Further background details may be found in the PostScript® Language Reference Manual, Second Edition (1990), from Adobe Systems, Inc., which was previously incorporated by reference.

The RIP 82 manages four different stacks, which are "last-in-first-out" (LIFO) data structures. These stacks include:

(1) an Operands Stack which holds (i) the input operands to various PostScript® operators, and (ii) the results of the operations;

(2) an Execution Stack which is controlled by the RIP 82 and which holds executable objects (i.e. procedures and files) that are in stages of execution;

(3) a Dictionary Stack which includes (i) a read only dictionary ("systemdict") which defines the implementation of the various PostScript® operators, (ii) a writable dictionary ("userdict") which stores all other definitions, and (iii) specialized dictionaries created by the user (e.g., an imposition dictionary); and

(4) a Graphics State Stack which is used to store graphics information, such as the parameters of the demand printer 84.

The Postscript® language is device independent such that the page descriptions contained in the merged PostScript® file 450 are specified in a coordinate system (called "user space") that is independent of the particular demand printer 84. The coordinate system (called "device space") used by the demand printer 84 varies depending on the particular demand printer 84 (the "current device") which is specified for rendering the current page. In order to render the pages described in the merged PostScript® file 450, the page descriptions (specified in user space) may be transformed to the current device space by a Current Transformation Matrix ([CTM]).

The PostScript® language uses the Current Transformation Matrix ([CTM]) to describe scaling, rotation, and translation of the page from user space to device space. For mapping the point (x, y) in user space to the point (x', y') in device space:

    [CTM]=[a b c d t.sub.x t.sub.y ],

where x

x'=ax+cy+t_(x)

y'=bx+dy+t_(y)

where a, b, c, and d determine the extent of scaling and rotation and where t_(x) and t_(y) determine the extent of translation.

The RIP 82 also maintains a data structure, called the "graphics state," that holds various graphics control parameters, including the [CTM]. The graphics state also includes (i) a clipping path, which defines the rendering area in the raster memory 452 for the current page; (ii) font and line definitions; (iii) a color space (such as DeviceGray, RGB, CMYK or CIE); and (iv) other graphics control parameters.

The PostScript® language includes several operators for setting up the current demand printer 84 to fulfill the processing requirements of the page descriptions contained in the merged Postscript® file 450. The current device setup includes establishing the Current Transformation Matrix ([CTM]) for the current demand printer 84. The default transformation from user space to device space for the current device is specified by a "system default matrix." The system default matrix may be generated by the PostScript® language, for example, by a defaultmatrix operator. The [CTM] may be considered an alteration of the system default matrix.

Once the current demand printer 84 has been set up, the RIP 82 can begin to interpret the page descriptions in the merged PostScriptO file 450. For each page in turn, everything that is to appear on that page (including text, graphics, and images) is "painted" into the raster memory 452 and stored and/or rendered by the demand printer 84.

In the merged Postscript® file 450, each description of a page to be rendered includes a PostScript® showpage operator. The showpage operator, which is generally included at the end of each page description, is used to transmit the raster description of the current page (saved in the raster memory 452) to the demand printer 84 for physical rendering of the current page. In general, the showpage operator transmits the contents of the raster memory 452 to the demand printer 84, then erases the current page from the raster memory 452 and partially resets the graphics state in preparation for interpreting the next page description in the merged PostScript® file 450.

In level 2 PostScript® implementations, the function of the showpage operator is controlled by an EndPage procedure and a BeginPage procedure that are defined according to the current demand printer 84. In general, the EndPage procedure specifies the disposition of the current page in the raster memory 452 and the BeginPage procedure sets up and marks the beginning of the next page description to be interpreted. These procedures may be defined, for example, by a level 2 setpagedevice operator which sets up the graphics state for the current demand printer 84 (the "current graphics state").

During normal operation, the level 2 showpage operator provides two operands to the EndPage procedure: a reason code and Pagecount. The reason code operand specifies whether the EndPage procedure is being called by the showpage operator, by a copypage operator, or during a device deactivation. When the EndPage procedure is called by the showpage operator, the reason operand is set to 0. The Pagecount operand is the number of executions of the showpage operator that have occurred since the current device was activated, not including the present execution. Thus, Pagecount is equal to the number of pages that have been rendered prior to the current page. After the EndPage procedure is executed, Pagecount is incremented by one and is provided as an operand to the BeginPage procedure.

The operation of the level 2 showpage operator is illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 20. A block 500 first sets the reason code operand equal to zero to specify that the EndPage procedure is being called by the showpage operator. A block 502 then calls the EndPage procedure, which consumes the reason code and PageCount operands and returns a boolean result that specifies the disposition of the current page in the raster memory 452. During normal operation, the EndPage procedure returns true during execution of the showpage or copypage operators (causing a physical page to be produced) and returns false during device deactivation. A decision-making block 504 determines whether the result returned from the EndPage procedure is true or false.

If the EndPage procedure returns "true", a block 506 transmits the contents of the raster memory 452 to the demand printer 84 for rendering. A block 508 then clears the raster memory 452 by executing a procedure similar to a PostScript® erasepage operator. Under normal operation, the EndPage procedure returns true if it is called by the showpage or copypage operator. Thus, the showpage and copypage operators cause the contents of the raster memory 452 to be transmitted to the demand printer 84 for rendering.

If the EndPage procedure returns a "false", the showpage operator does not perform either of the functions of the blocks 506 and 508 (i.e., no page is rendered), but skips to a block 510. The block 510 executes a procedure similar to a PostScript@ initgraphics operator which resets the [CTM], the clipping path, and other graphics parameters to the default values for the current demand printer 84, thus setting up the graphics state for composing the next page. The clipping path defines the rendering area for the current page stored in the raster memory 452.

A block 512 then increments the Pagecount operand by one and a block 514 calls the BeginPage procedure with Pagecount as an operand. The BeginPage procedure marks the beginning of the next page in the merged Postscript® file 450 to be interpreted by the RIP 82.

The standard operation of the level 2 showpage operator illustrated in FIG. 20 may be represented by the following PostScript® pseudo code:

    ______________________________________                                         /showpage {                                                                    /reason 0 def          % reason = 0 for                                                               % showpage                                              pagecount reason EndPage                                                                              % call Endpage                                                                 % procedure                                             { transmit contents of % \ do these                                  lines                                                                          raster memory to       %  \ only                                     demand printer         %  / if Endpage                                         erasepage } if         % / returns                                             true                                                                           initgraphics           % set default                                           graphics                                                                                              % state                                                 /pagecount pagecount 1 add def                                                                        % increment                                                                    % pagecount                                             pagecount BeginPage    % call BeginPage                                                               % procedure                                             } def                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

The Imposition-On-The-Fly Procedures

The imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention create a layer on top of the demand printer, called a "virtual device." The desired position (scale, orientation and size) of a page to be printed by the demand printer is specified by a procedure (called "setvirtualdevice") which establishes the virtual device for that page. Thus, from the standpoint of the Postscript® program, the [CTM] is the same as the system default matrix and every page begins with a [CTM] mapping user space coordinates to the lower left corner of the output device. The [CTM] can be explicitly manipulated as if each PostScript® page were imaged on a distinct, but identical, physical page.

Thus, when imposing and rendering a selected page from the merged PostScript® file 450, the current output device (i.e. the demand printer 84) is defined as the virtual device. In general, the virtual device for a selected page is the same size as the page and is positioned at the place on the flat 456 where the page is to be rendered.

The virtual device is established by setting the current transformation matrix ([CTM]) to properly position the page. A clipping path, which defines the rendering area in the raster memory 452, is then created around the border of the page. Thus, the RIP 82 "sees" the position where the page is to be rendered as the current output device.

For pages in the merged PostScript® file 450 that will not be rendered on the current flat 456 (i.e. are not included in the current book), the current output device (the demand printer 84) is defined as a scaled-down virtual device for the next page to be imposed and rendered on the flat. The scaled-down virtual device allows any intervening pages not to be imposed on the flat to be quickly interpreted by the RIP 82.

The imposition-on-the fly procedures include the setvirtualdevice procedure, which establishes the virtual device for the next page to rendered on the flat 456 and an EnableVirtualDevice procedure which sets up the showpage operator to support virtual devices. The EndPage and BeginPage procedures that are invoked by the showpage operator are also redefined. These procedures will be described in detail below.

The Imposition-on-the-Fly Instruction Set:

Preferably, the instruction set for implementing imposition-on-the-fly by creating the virtual device for pages to be rendered on the flat are input to the RIP 82 in the below-described format. However, the present invention may be modified to properly impose different instruction set formats.

The imposition-on-the-fly instruction set contains the name(s) of the merged PostScript® file(s) 450 that will be interpreted by the RIP 82 and rendered by the demand printer 84. These file names are associated with entry lists (stored in arrays) containing one or more entries, wherein each entry contains the following information:

1) A first user procedure--The user procedure may contain various instructions, including comments, printer's marks (such as barcodes or watermarks) or other information. (The user procedure may also be null and is not essential to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention).

2) A page number--The page number is the sequential number of the page description in the merged Postscript® file 450 of the page to be rendered on the flat 456. The merged Postscript® file 450 is assumed to contain page descriptions in sequential order, wherein the first page description is page "0."

3) Operands to the setvirtualdevice procedure--As explained in detail below, the setvirtualdevice procedure establishes the appropriate virtual device as the current output device for a particular page. The setvirtualdevice procedure requires the following three operands, which are included in each entry in the entry list:

i) the scaling, translation and rotation factors which will be used to generate a "virtual [CTMI]" which will properly position the selected page on the flat 456. These factors are listed as follows: [scale₋₋ x scale₋₋ y translate₋₋ x translate₋₋ y rotate];

ii) the user space coordinates of the lower-left and upper-right corners of the actual rendering area of the next page to be rendered on the flat 456. These corner coordinates will be used to generate a clipping path around the border of the page in the raster memory 452. The corner coordinates are listed as follows: [ClipllX ClipllY ClipurX ClipurY]; and

iii) the size (width and length) of the page to be rendered on the flat. The page size is listed as follows: [PageX PageY]. (The page size is not necessarily equivalent to the clipping path defining the rendering area of the page, as many demand printers are unable to place marks at the extreme edges of the page).

4) A second user procedure ("offsets"): Like the first user procedure, the second user procedure may contain comments, printer's marks (barcodes, watermarks, etc.) or other information or may be null. In a preferred embodiment, however, for the first page on the flat, the second user procedure is used to "offset" the program to the next page to be rendered on the flat.

For example, the merged Postscript® file generally contains many, many pages because it includes separate page descriptions for each variable page. Assume a simple four page book with three master pages and only one variable page. The book may be sent to 1,000 different people, with different variable information for each person. Thus, the merged Postscript® file contains 1,003 page descriptions--3 master pages and 1,000 variable pages. Imposition-on-the-fly with offsets allows for quick printing of the books because it "skips over" (i.e. does not RIP) the 999 variable pages that will not be included in each book.

For imposition-on-the-fly with offsets, the second user procedure for the first entry in the instruction set contains a file object, an offset position and the Postscript® setfileposition operator. The offset position points to the next page description in the file that is to be included on the flat. (The offset positions were calculated and saved by the block 364 of FIG. 13.) The setfileposition operator repositions the current merged Postscript® file 450 to that offset position.

Thus, the PostScript® instruction set format for imposition-on-the-fly imposition of the present invention is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         [ (FileName)                                                                   [ { user procedure 1 }                                                         page# { operands to setvirtualdevice }                                         { FileObject offset setfileposition }                                          [ { user procedure 1}                                                          page# { operands to setvirtualdevice }                                         { user procedure 2 - barcodes, watermarks,                                     etc. }                                                                         ]                                                                              ]                                                                              ______________________________________                                    

A sample imposition-on-the-fly with offsets instruction set is attached as Appendix I. The Appendix I instruction set also includes code in certain second user procedures to print a barcode.

Explanation of Variables:

The variables used by the imposition-on-the-fly procedures may be conveniently defined and stored in a user dictionary (called, for example, "impositiondict"). These variables include:

1) PageOffset--the cumulative number of pages from any previous Postscript® files that have been interpreted in accordance with the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention. Initially, PageOffset is set to -1 (no previous files (or pages) have been interpreted).

2) CurrentPage--the number of the next page in the current merged PostScript® file 450 that is to be rendered on the current flat 456. CurrentPage is initially set to 0.

3) LastPage--the number of the last page in the current merged PostScript® file 450 that is to be rendered on the current flat, which is equal to the page number in the last entry of the entry list. LastPage is initially set to 1 and is used to determine how many page descriptions in the merged Postscript® file must be interpreted in order to properly render all of the selected pages on the current flat.

4) PageCount--the number of times that the showpage operator has been executed (initially 0). In level 2 Postscript® implementations, PageCount is stored and incremented internally by the RIP 82 through the showpage operator. However, in level 1 PostScript® implementations, the PageCount variable must be explicitly defined and incremented to emulate the operation of the level 2 showpage operator.

5) PageList--the list of entries (page numbers and imposition procedures) contained in the entry list.

6) CurrentIndex--an index into the PageList.

7) LastIndex--the number of entries in the entry list.

8) DefaultMatrix--used to store the value of the [CTM] describing the virtual device (the "virtual [CTMI]"). The scaling, translation and rotation components of the virtual [CTM] are supplied as operands to the setvirtualdevice procedure.

9) PageX and PageY--the width and height respectively of the page to be rendered on the flat 456. The values of PageX and PageY are provided in each entry of the entry list as operands to the setvirtualdevice procedure.

10) DefaultPageX and DefaultPageY--the default values of the page width and height, respectively. Their values are initially set to 81/2" (612) and 11"(792), respectively.

11) ClipllX, ClipllY, ClipurX and ClipurY--the user space coordinates of the lower-left and upper-right corners, respectively, of the clipping path defining the border of the virtual device. The values of these variables are also included as operands to the setvirtualdevice procedure.

12) Portrait--a boolean variable used to describe the page orientation of the current page. If Portrait is true, the current page has a portrait orientation (page width<page height). If Portrait is false, the current page has a landscape orientation (page width>page height).

13) DefaultPortrait--the default value for the page orientation, which is initially set to true (portrait orientation).

14) VirtualDeviceEnabled--a boolean variable used to determine whether a procedure called, for example, "EnableVirtualDevice," has been executed. As explained in detail below, the EnableVirtualDevice procedure sets up the standard PostScript® showpage operator to support virtual devices.

15) ImageDone--a boolean variable used to specify when the current flat 456 has been completed. ImageDone is initially and normally set to false, indicating that the current flat 456 has not been completed.

A further description of the variables used is included in the following PostScriptO code, which creates the impositiondict dictionary and initializes the variables:

    ______________________________________                                         /impositiondict 200 dict def                                                                   % create dictionary                                                            % impositiondict begin                                         /Identify matrix def                                                                        % used as input to                                                setmatrix                                                                      /Matrix matrix def                                                                          % dummy matrix for temp                                           storage                                                                        /Matrix2 matrix def                                                                         % dummy matrix for temp                                           storage                                                                        /Matrix3 matrix def                                                                         % dummy matrix for temp                                           storage                                                                        /Matrix4 matrix def                                                                         % dummy matrix for temp                                           storage                                                                        /DefaultPageX 612 def                                                                       % default page width (X)                                          and                                                                            /DefaultPageY 792 def                                                                       % page length (Y) (8 1/2"                                                      % 11")                                                            /DefaultPortrait true def                                                                      % assume page orient =                                                         % portrait                                                     /PageOffset -1 def                                                                            % first file - no                                               previous                                                                                      % pages                                                         /CurrentPage 0 def                                                                           % initial value of page to                                                     % impose                                                         /CurrentIndex 0 def                                                                          % % initial value of page to                                                   % impose                                                         /LastPage 2147483647 def                                                                     % initial value is highest                                                     % number                                                         /PageCount 0 def                                                                             % used in level 1 only                                           /DefaultMatrix matrix                                                                        % the "default" matrix for                                       the                                                                             currentmatrix def                                                                           % current virtual device                                         /VirtualDeviceEnabled false def                                                                % allow normal                                                              % operation                                                       /ImageDone false def                                                                         % not done with current                                          media                                                                                        % Set initial job defaults                                       /Portrait DefaultPortrait def                                                                  % default to                                                   portrait                                                                                       % mode                                                         /PageX DefaultPageX def                                                                      % initial page size                                              /PageY DefaultPageY def                                                                      %                                                                /Clip11X 0 def                                                                               % initial lower left                                             /Clip11Y 0 def                                                                               % and upper right                                                /ClipurX DefaultPageX def                                                                      % corners of                                                   /ClipurY DefaultPageY def                                                                      % clipping                                                     path                                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined PostScript® Operators:

Also, before executing the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention, several Postscript® operators must be redefined for compatibility with the EnableVirtualDevice and setvirtualdevice procedures, which will be described in detail below. The virtual device, in effect, "shields" the PostScript® program and RIP from where the pages are being painted into the raster memory 452 through the [CTM]. Thus, in general, the PostScript® operators that affect the [CTM] must be redefined to also "shield" the PostScript® program and RIP from the final mapping of the page description from user space to device space coordinates. The PostScript® operators which must be redefined include:

    ______________________________________                                         initmatrix           transform                                                 initclip             itransform                                                setmatrix            dtransform                                                currentmatrix        idtransform                                               erasepage            nulldevice                                                initgraphics         copypage                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The standard operation of these, and all other Postscript® operators, is fully described in the Postscript® Language Reference Manual, Second Edition (1990), from Adobe Systems, Inc., which was previously incorporated by reference.

The first step in redefining the above-listed postScript® operators is to rename the standard operator, for example, "systemdict₋₋ operator," because its definition is stored in the systemdict dictionary. This may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /systemdict.sub.-- initmatrix systemdict /initmatrix get                       def                                                                            /systemdict.sub.-- initclip systemdict /initclip get def                       /systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix systemdict /setmatrix get def                     /systemdict.sub.-- erasepage systemdict /erasepage get def                     /systemdict.sub.-- initgraphics systemdict /initgraphics                       get def                                                                        /systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix systemdict /currentmatrix                     get def                                                                        /systemdict.sub.-- transform systemdict /transform get def                     /systemdict.sub.-- itransform systemdict /itransform get                       def                                                                            /systemdict.sub.-- dtransform systemdict /dtransform get                       def                                                                            /systemdict.sub.-- idtransform systemdict /idtransform get                     def                                                                            ______________________________________                                    

As explained below, the standard nulldevice and copypage operators are not renamed because their standard operation will never be used in connection with the present invention. The new definitions of the operators, described below, are then loaded into the userdict dictionary.

The Redefined initmatrix Operator:

The standard Postscript® initmatrix operator sets the [CTM] to the system default matrix for the current device. The initmatrix operator is redefined to set the [CTM] equal to the virtual [CTM] which defines the virtual device. The virtual [CTM] may be stored in the variable DefaultMatrix.

The PostScript® initmatrix operator may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                   /initmatrix {                                                                  impositiondict begin                                                           DefaultMatrix                                                                  systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    end                                                                            } bind def                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined initclip Operator:

The default clipping path corresponds to the boundary of the maximum imageable area for the current output device (the demand printer 84). The standard PostScript® initclip operator replaces the current clipping path in the graphics state with the default clipping path for the current demand printer. The initclip operator is redefined to replace the current clipping path in the graphics state with a clipping path defining the border of the virtual device page.

The flowchart of FIG. 21 illustrates the program steps implemented by the redefined initclip operator. A decision-making block 520 determines whether a current path exists by checking for the existence of a currentpoint. If no currentpoint is defined, a block 522 stores an empty path in a variable called, for example, "p1." Alternatively, if a currentpoint is defined, a block 524 invokes a previously defined utility routine called, for example, "MakePath," that creates a path description from the current path. The block 524 then saves the current path description in the variable p1. The MakePath procedure, which may be stored in the impositiondict dictionary, is similar to the level 2 Postscript® upath operator and may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /Makepath {                                                                    [ {/moveto cvx} {/lineto cvx} {/curveto                                        cvx}                                                                           {/closepath cvx} pathforall ] cvx                                              } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

Next, a block 526 saves the current [CTM] and a block 528 sets the [CTM] to the virtual [CTM]. A block 530 then creates a clipping path between the corners of the virtual device, which were specified by the values of the ClipllX, ClipllY, ClipurX and ClipurY variables provided as operands to the setvirtualdevice procedure. A block 532 then restores the [CTM] which was saved by the block 526 and the current path saved in the variable p1.

The PostScript® initclip operator may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /initclip                                                                      impositiondict begin                                                           { currentpoint } stopped                                                       { /pl { } def }    % pl = empty                                                path                                                                           { pop pop /pl MakePath def}                                                                         % pl =                                                    current                                                                                           % path                                                      ifelse                                                                         matrix systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix                                         initmatrix                                                                     systemdict.sub.-- initclip                                                     newpath                                                                        Clip11X Clip11Y moveto                                                                            % create clippath                                           ClipurX Clip11Y lineto                                                         ClipurX ClipurY lineto                                                         Clip11X ClipurY lineto                                                         closepath                                                                      clip                                                                           newpath                                                                        systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    p1                   % restore                                                 current    end              %                                                  path                                                                           } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined setmatrix Operator:

The standard Postscript® setmatrix operator replaces the current [CTM] in the graphics state with a matrix that is supplied on the Operands stack. The matrix supplied on the Operands stack ("the operand matrix") can be considered the result of the concatenation of the system default matrix with an operations matrix.

The setmatrix operator is redefined to calculate the operations matrix by concatenating the operand matrix with the inverse of the system default matrix. Thus,

[operand matrix]=[operations matrix] [system default matrix], and

[operations matrix]=[operand matrix] [system default matrix]⁻¹.

Once the operations matrix is calculated, it is concatenated with the virtual [CTM] (stored in DefaultMatrix) and saved as the new [CTM]. Thus,

new[CTM]=[operations matrix] [virtual CTM].

The Postscript® setmatrix operator may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                 /setmatrix {                                                                     impositiondict begin                                                           Matrix defaultmatrix                                                           Matrix2 invertmatrix                                                           Matrix3 concatmatrix                                                           DefaultMatrix                                                                  Matrix4 concatmatrix                                                           systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    end                                                                          } bind def                                                             ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined currentmatrix Operator:

The standard currentmatrix operator replaces the matrix supplied on the Operands stack with the current [CTM] in the graphics state.

The current [CTM] can be considered the result of concatenating the virtual [CTM] (saved in DefaultMatrix) with an operations matrix. The redefined currentmatrix operator calculates the operations matrix by concatenating the current [CTM] with the inverse of the virtual [CTM] as set forth below:

[current CTM]=[operations matrix] [virtual CTM], and

[operations matrix]=[current CTM] [virtual CTMI]⁻¹.

The [operations matrix] is then concatenated with the system default matrix and the resultant matrix is stored in the matrix on the Operands stack.

The Postscript® currentmatrix operator may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /currentmatrix {                                                               impositiondict begin                                                           Matrix systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix                                         DefaultMatrix                                                                  Matrix2 invertmatrix                                                           Matrix3 concatmatrix                                                           Matrix4 defaultmatrix                                                          3 -1 roll                                                                      concatmatrix                                                                   end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined erasepage Operator:

The standard erasepage operator erases the entire current page stored in raster memory by painting the page white. The erasepage operator is redefined to erase only the virtual device page, which is the area defined by the next page to be rendered on the current flat.

The erasepage operator is redefined by calling the redefined initclip operator, described above, which establishes a clipping path around the border of the virtual device page. The area inside the clipping path is then painted white. The standard PostScript® gsave operator (described in detail in connection with the optional imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the invention ) is called immediately before the redefined initclip operator to save the current graphics state, including the current clipping path, gray level, etc. Also, after the virtual device page has been painted white, the standard PostScript® grestore operator (also described in detail in connection with the optional procedures) is called to restore the current graphics state.

The PostScript® erasepage operator may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /erasepage {                                                                   impositiondict begin                                                           gsave        % systemdict.sub.-- gsave for optional                            procs                                                                          initclip                                                                       clippath 1 setgray fill                                                        grestore     % systemdict.sub.-- grestore for                                  optional                                                                                  % procs                                                             end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

(In the optional imposition-on-the-fly procedures, the standard PostScript® gsave and grestore operators are redefined. Thus, in the optional procedures, the erasepage operator is redefined by calling the systemdict₋₋ gsave and systemdict₋₋ grestore operators, as specified above.)

The Redefined initgraphics Operator:

The standard Postscript® initgraphics operator resets several values in the graphics state, including the [CTM], the current path and the clipping path, to their default values. The standard initgraphics operator is equivalent to the following PostScript® language sequence:

    ______________________________________                                         initmatrix newpath initclip                                                    1 setlinewidth 0 setlinecap 0 setlinejoin                                      [] 0 setdash 0 setgray 10 setmiterlimit                                        ______________________________________                                    

The initgraphics operator is redefined to perform the above listed sequence. However, the redefined initgraphics calls the redefined initmatrix and initclip operators, which were described above. Thus, the redefined initgraphics operator resets the [CTM] and the clipping path to their default values for the virtual device.

The Postscript® initgraphics operator may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /initgraphics {                                                                initmatrix newpath initclip                                                    1 setlinewidth 0 setlinecap 0 setlinejoin                                      [] 0 setdash 0 setgray 10 setmiterlimit                                        } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined "transform" Operators:

The standard PostScript® transform operator transforms a supplied user space coordinate (x,y) to the corresponding device space coordinate (x',y') as specified by the [CTM]. Since the [CTM] is altered during the imposition process, the transform operator is redefined to perform the transformation as if the [CTM] had not been altered.

If a matrix operand is supplied to the standard transform operator, the transformation from user to device space is performed according to the supplied matrix. Thus, if a matrix operand is supplied, the transform operator is also redefined to perform the transformation according to the supplied matrix.

The PostScript® language includes three other "transform" operators (dtransform, itransform and idtransform) which are redefined in the same manner as the transform operator.

The standard PostScript® dtransform operator specifies a "distance" transformation of a coordinate from user to device space according to the [CTM] or a supplied matrix operand. In a distance transformation, the translation components (t_(x) and t_(y)) of the [CTM] are not used.

The standard Postscript® itransform operator specifies a transformation of a coordinate in device space (x',y') to user space (x,y) according to the inverse of the [CTM] or a supplied matrix operand. The standard idtransform operator specifies a distance transformation from device space to user space according to the inverse of the [CTM] or a supplied matrix operand.

FIG. 22 illustrates the program steps implemented by the redefined transform operator. The other transform operators are redefined in the same way. A decision-making block 534 first determines whether a matrix operand was supplied to the transform operator. If a matrix operand was supplied, a block 536 simply calls the standard transform operator (now renamed "systemdict₋₋ transform") to perform the transformation according to the supplied matrix. (For the other transform operators, the block 536 calls systemdict₋₋ dtransform, systemdict₋₋ itransform or systemdict₋₋ idtransform).

Alternatively, if the block 534 determines that a matrix operand was not supplied, a block 538 first saves a copy of the current [CTM] in the graphics state on the Operands Stack.

As explained previously, the current [CTM] can be considered the result of the concatenating the virtual [CTM] (saved in DefaultMatrix) with an operations matrix. A block 540 thus calculates the operations matrix by concatenating the current [CTM] with the inverse of the virtual [CTM].

Next, a block 542 sets a new [CTM] equal to the operations matrix concatenated with the system default matrix. The new [CTM] is now equal to what the [CTM] would have been if the setvirtualdevice and imposition procedures were not implemented.

A block 544 then calls the standard transform operator to perform the transformation from user to device space according to the new [CTM]. (Again, for the other transform operators, the block 544 calls the standard dtransform, itransform, or ₋₋ idtransform operator).

Lastly, a block 546 resets the [CTM] equal to the current [CTM] saved on the Operands Stack by the block 538.

The PostScript® transform operators may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /transform {                                                                   impositiondict begin                                                           dup type /arraytype eq {                                                       systemdict.sub.-- transform                                                                      % or                                                         systmdict.sub.-- dtransform                                                                    % or                                                                           %                                                              systemdict.sub.-- itransform                                                               % or                                                               systemdict.sub.-- idtransform                                                  } {                                                                            Matrix systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix                                         dup 4 1 roll                                                                   DefaultMatrix                                                                  Matrix2 invertmatrix                                                           Matrix3 concatmatrix                                                           Matrix2 defaultmatrix                                                          Matrix4 concatmatrix                                                           systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    systemdict.sub.-- transform                                                                      % or                                                                           %                                                            systemdict.sub.-- dtransform                                                                   % or systemdict.sub.-- itransform                                              % or                                                           systemdict.sub.-- idtransform                                                  3 -1 roll systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                          } ifelse                                                                       end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined nulldevice Operator:

The standard Postscript® nulldevice operator installs a "null device" as the current output device. The standard PostScript® nulldevice operator produces no physical output and has no associated raster memory. However, any graphics or font operations executed will be saved in the current graphics state. The PostScript® nulldevice operator also sets the [CTM] to an identity matrix ([1 0 0 1 0 0]) and establishes the clipping path as a single point at the origin.

The standard Postscript® nulldevice operator, however, is not suitable for use with this invention because is not a page device operator and, therefore, has no EndPage and BeginPage procedures associated with it. Thus, the nulldevice operator is redefined to set the [CTM] to the identity matrix and establish a one point clipping path without altering the current page device.

The PostScript® nulldevice operator may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /nulldevice {                                                                          impositiondict /Identity get                                                   systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    newpath                                                                        clip                                                                   } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined copypage Operator:

Under normal operation, the standard PostScript® copypage operator transmits one copy of the current page to the demand printer without erasing the current page or changing the graphics state. Like the showpage operator, the operation of the copypage operator depends on the EndPage and BeginPage procedures, which are redefined by the present invention. In the present invention, the EndPage and BeginPage procedures are redefined so that the copypage operator has no affect. The EndPage and BeginPage procedures could be redefined to check for the copypage operator (by comparing the reason code to one). Alternatively, the operation of the copypage operator can simply be nulled by the following code:

/copypage { } def

The EnableVirtualDevice Procedure:

The EnableVirtualDevice procedure, which is called by the ImposeJob procedure at the end of the instruction set, sets up the showpage operator to support virtual devices. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the EnableVirtualDevice procedure. A block 550 first determines whether the RIP 82 implements level 1 or level 2 PostScript® by determining whether the PostScript® setpagedevice operator is defined in the systemdict dictionary. If the RIP 82 implements the level 2 PostScript® language, a block 552 loads the redefined EndPage and BeginPage procedures into the current graphics state for the demand printer 84 by calling the setpagedevice operator. As described in detail below, the EndPage and BeginPage procedures are redefined to define the current output device as a virtual device for pages to be rendered or as a scaled-down virtual device for non-rendered pages.

The blocks 550 and 552 of the EnableVirtualDevice procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /EnableVirtualDevice {                                                         /setpagedevice where {                                                                           % level 2                                                    pop                                                                            2 dict begin                                                                   /Endpage impositiondict /EndPage get                                           def                                                                            /BeginPage impositiondict /BeqinPage                                           get                                                                            def                                                                            currentdict end                                                                setpagedevice                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

Alternatively, if the block 550 determines that the RIP 82 implements level 1 PostScript®, a block 554 renames the standard level 1 showpage operator and a block 556 redefines the showpage operator to emulate the operation of the level 2 showpage operator as illustrated in FIG. 20. Next, a block 558 executes the BeginPage procedure for the first page (page "0") in the merged PostScript® file 450. (This was done automatically in the level 2 implementation by the block 552 by calling the setpagedevice operator).

The blocks 554-558 may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         {   impositiondict /systemdict.sub.-- showpage                                                           %                                                    rename                                                                         systemdict /showpage get put                                                                         %                                                        showpage                                                                       /showpage {           %                                                        emulate                                                                        impositiondict begin  % level                                                  Pagecount 0 Endpage                                                            systemdict.sub.-- showpage                                                     } if                                                                           systemdict.sub.-- initgraphics                                                 /Pagecount PageCount 1 add def                                                 Pagecount /BeginPage load end exec                                             } def                                                                          0 impositiondict /BeginPage get exec                                           } ifelse                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Next, a block 560 invokes a procedure (called, for example, "DisablePageDevice") which was previously stored in the impositiondict dictionary. The DisablePageDevice procedure redefines the Postscript® setpagedevice operator and all other compatibility operators that call the setpagedevice operator. Disabling these operators ensures that the raster memory 452 (which may contain the raster descriptions of previously processed pages to be rendered on the flat 456) is not erased by the setpagedevice operator. The DisablePageDevice procedure is described in detail below in connection with FIG. 24.

After the block 560 invokes the DisablePageDevice procedure described above, a block 562 sets the boolean variable called "VirtualDeviceEnabled" to true to indicate that the procedure has been completed and the showpage operator is set up to support virtual devices.

The blocks 560 and 562 of the EnableVirtualDevice procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         impositiondict /DisablePageDevice get exec                                     impositiondict /VirtualDeviceEnabled true put                                  } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The DisablePageDevice Procedure:

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the DisablePageDevice procedure, which is invoked by the block 560 of the EnableVirtualDevice procedure. Because setpagedevice is a level 2 operator, a block 570 determines whether the RIP 82 implements the level 1 or the level 2 Postscript® language by determining whether the setpagedevice operator is defined in the systemdict dictionary. If the RIP 82 implements the level 2 Postscript® language, blocks 572-580 redefine the setpagedevice operator to correct the page orientation of the output device, if necessary.

During normal level 2 operation, a dictionary operand containing input media selection entries is provided to the PostScript® setpagedevice operator and the setpagedevice operator establishes the current output device according to the information contained in the current graphics state and the dictionary operand. The dictionary operand may contain, for example, an entry for PageSize, which is an array of two numbers indicating the width and height of the current page. Thus, a call to the setpagedevice operator may alter the page size, which is critical in setting up the virtual device.

The block 572 of the redefined setpagedevice operator first determines whether an entry for PageSize was included in the dictionary operand to the setpagedevice operator. If so, the block 574 then determines whether the PageSize specified in the entry is portrait or landscape orientation by comparing the page width to the page height supplied in the PageSize entry. (As explained above, for purposes of the invention, if the page width is less than the page height, the orientation is referred to as portrait and the variable Portrait is set to true. If the page width is greater than the page height, the orientation is referred to as landscape and the variable Portrait is set to false).

A block 576 then compares the page orientation of the PageSize entry (determined by block 574) to the page orientation of the virtual device (stored in the variable Portrait). If they are not the same, a block 578 invokes a procedure called, for example, "SetPortrait," which changes the orientation of the virtual device from portrait to landscape, or vice versa. (The SetPortrait Procedure is described in detail below). Next, for consistency with the normal operation of the setpagedevice operator, a block 580 calls the redefined initgraphics and erasepage operators. Alternatively, if the block 576 determines that the page orientation of the PageSize entry is the same as the virtual device, or if the block 572 determines that PageSize was not included in the dictionary operand to the setpagedevice operator, the program skips directly to the block 580, which completes the redefinition of the setpagedevice operator.

The blocks 570-580 of the DisablePageDevice procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /DisablePageDevice {                                                           /setpagedevice where {                                                                 pop                                                                            userdict                                                                       /setpagedevice {                                                                 dup /PageSize known {                                                            /Pagesize get                                                                  impositiondict begin                                                           aload pop                                                                      lt Portrait ne {                                                                 SetPortrait                                                                    } if                                                                       end                                                                            } {                                                                            pop                                                                            } ifelse                                                                       initgraphics                                                                   erasepage                                                                    } put                                                                  } if                                                                           ______________________________________                                    

After the block 580 calls the redefined initgraphics and erasepage operators, or if the block 570 determines that the RIP 82 implements level 1 PostScript®, a block 582 redefines the compatibility operators, which are defined in either the statusdict dictionary or the userdict dictionary, which call the setpagedevice operator or perform similar level 1 operations.

For compatibility operators that change the page orientation, the block 582 redefines the operator to set the orientation of the virtual device equal to the orientation of the page specified by the operator and to initialize the virtual device. These operators may be redefined by a utility routine called, for example, "SetPageSize," which is similar to the blocks 576-580 described above. The SetPageSize routine may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /SetPageSize {                                                                 lt Portrait ne {                                                                            % correct orientation of                                          virtual                                                                        Setportrait  % device, if necessary                                            } if                                                                           initgraphics % initialize virtual device                                       erasepage    % (emulate                                                        setpagedevice)                                                                 } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

For compatibility operators that do not affect the page orientation, the block 582 simply disables or nulls the operators. The block 582 of the DisablePageDevice procedure, which redefines or disables the compatibility operators, may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         statusdict begin                                                                          % operators in statusdict                                           /a3tray {impositiondict begin 842 792 SetPageSize                              end} def                                                                       /a4tray {impositiondict begin 595 842 SetPageSize                              end} def                                                                       /ledgertray {impositiondict begin 1224 792                                     SetPageSize end} def                                                           /setpage {pop pop pop} def                                                     /setpagestackorder {pop} def                                                   /settumble {pop} def                                                           /11×17tray {impositiondict begin 792 1224                                SetPageSize end} def                                                           /b5tray {impositiondict begin 612 1008                                         SetPageSize end} def                                                           /setdefaulttimeouts {pop} def                                                  /setduplexmode ≡pop} def                                                 /setmargins {pop pop} def                                                      /setpagemargin {pop} def                                                       /lettertray {impositiondict begin 612 792                                      SetPageSize end} def                                                           /setmirrorprint {pop} def                                                      /setpageparams {pop pop pop pop} def                                           /setresolution {pop} def                                                       end                                                                                     % operators in userdict                                               /a3 {impositiondict begin 842 1191 SetPageSize end}                            def                                                                            /b5 {impositiondict begin 516 729 SePageSize end}                              def                                                                            /letter {impositiondict begin 612 792 StPageSize                               end} def                                                                       /lettersmall {impositiondict begin 612 792                                     SetPageSize end} def                                                           /legal {impositiondict begin 612 1008 SetPageSize                              end} def                                                                       /ledger {impositiondict begin 1224 792 SetPageSize                             end} def                                                                       /11×17 {impositiondict begin 792 1224 SetPageSize                        end} def                                                                       /a4 {impositiondict begin 595 842 SetPageSize end}                             def                                                                            /a4small {impositiondict begin 595 842 SetPageSize                             end} def                                                                       /note { } def                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The SetPortrait Procedure:

The SetPortrait procedure, which is invoked by the block 578 of the DisablePageDevice procedure, changes the orientation of the virtual device from portrait to landscape or vice versa. FIG. 25 illustrates the program steps implemented by the SetPortrait procedure. A block 590 first determines whether the variable Portrait is true (indicating the page is portrait) or false (indicating the page is landscape).

If Portrait is true, the orientation of the device must be converted from portrait to landscape. As illustrated in FIG. 26A, a portrait-orientated page 592 is represented in a Cartesian coordinate system with an origin at point O_(P). The portrait-orientated page 592 has a width PageX and a height PageY. The rendering area on the page 592 is bordered by a clipping path 594, which may be defined by the coordinates of its lower-left corner (llx, lly) and the coordinates of its upper-right corner (urx, ury).

The portrait-oriented page 592 is converted to a landscape-oriented page 596 by translating the origin O_(P) of the page 592 in the positive x-direction and then rotating the coordinate system 90 degrees counterclockwise, resulting in the landscape-orientated coordinate system of the page 596 with an origin O_(L). Although the device space coordinates of the clipping path 594 are unchanged, the clipping path 594 must be redefined with respect to the new landscape coordinate system.

Referring again to FIG. 25, after the block 590 determines that the orientation of the device must be converted from portrait to landscape, a block 600 redefines the corner coordinate variables as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Portrait Coordinate                                                                           Landscape Coordinate                                            ______________________________________                                         ClipllX        ClipllY                                                         ClipllY        PageX - ClipurX                                                 ClipurX        ClipurY                                                         ClipurY        PageX - ClipllY                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Next, blocks 602 and 604 create matrices which will translate the origin O_(P) by the page width (PageX) in the positive x-direction and then rotate the portrait coordinate system 90 degrees counterclockwise about the origin O_(P). A block 606 then concatenates the matrices with the current virtual [CTM] to create the new virtual [CTM], which specifies the device in landscape orientation.

The blocks 590 and 600-606 of the SetPortrait procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                /SetPortrait {                                                                    Portrait {                                                                         /tmp ClipllX def                                                               /ClipllY PageX ClipurX sub def                                                 /ClipurX ClipurY def                                                           /ClipurY PageX tmp sub def                                                     90 Matrix rotate                                                               PageX 0 Matrix2 translate                                                      DefaultMatrix                                                                  Matrix3 concatmatrix                                                           DefaultMatrix concatmatrix                                                     pop                                                                            }                                                                ______________________________________                                    

If the block 590 determines that the variable Portrait is false, the orientation of the device must be converted from landscape to portrait. Referring also to FIG. 26B, a landscape-oriented page 608 is specified in a Cartesian coordinate system with an origin O_(L). The rendered area on the page 608 is bordered by a clipping path 610 defined by the coordinates of its lower-left and upper-right corners. The landscape-oriented page 608 is converted to a portrait-oriented page 612 by translating the origin O_(L) in the positive y-direction and then rotating the coordinate system 90 degrees clockwise about the origin O_(L). This generates a portrait-oriented coordinate system with an origin O_(P).

Similar to the above-described portrait to landscape procedure, a block 614 first redefines the corner coordinates of the clipping path as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Landscape Coordinate                                                                           Portrait Coordinate                                            ______________________________________                                         ClipllY         ClipllX                                                        ClipllX         PageY - ClipurY                                                ClipurY         ClipurX                                                        ClipurX         PageY - ClipllY                                                ______________________________________                                    

Next, blocks 616 and 618 create matrices to translate the origin O_(L) in the positive y-direction and then rotate the origin O_(L) 90 degrees clockwise. A block 620 then concatenates the matrices with the current virtual [CTM] to generate the new virtual [CTM], which specifies the device in a portrait coordinate system.

The blocks 614-620 of the SetPortrait procedure, which convert from landscape to portrait orientation, may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                 /tmp ClipllY def                                                               /ClipllY ClipllX def                                                           /ClipllX PageY ClipurY sub def                                                 /ClipurY ClipurX def                                                           /ClipurX PageY tmp sub def                                                     -90 Matrix rotate                                                              0 PageY Matrix2 translate                                                      DefaultMatrix                                                                  Matrix3 concatmatrix                                                           DefaultMatrix concatmatrix                                                     pop                                                                            } ifelse                                                               ______________________________________                                    

After the clipping path corners are redefined and the new virtual [CTM] is generated, a block 622 exchanges the values of PageX and PageY. Thus, for example, when converting from portrait to landscape, the portrait page width becomes the landscape page height and the portrait page height becomes the landscape page width. Lastly, a block 624 changes the value of the variable Portrait. Thus, if Portrait was initially true (indicating portrait orientation), it is set to false to indicate that the device is now in landscape orientation. Conversely, if Portrait was initially false (indicating landscape orientation), it is set to true to indicate that the device is now in portrait orientation.

The blocks 622-624 may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                        /tmp PageX def                                                                 /PageX PageY def                                                               /PageY tmp def                                                                 /Portrait Portrait not def                                               } bind def                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The SetPortrait procedure described above comprises an optional part of the present invention and is not necessary for use with PostScript® applications which do not alter the page orientation.

The setvirtualdevice Procedure:

The setvirtualdevice procedure establishes the current transformation matrix ([CTM]), the clipping path, and the page size such that the current output device is specified as a virtual device. The virtual device is defined to be the size of the next page to be rendered, with the origin and page boundary at the position on the flat 456 where the page is to be rendered.

The setvirtualdevice procedure requires the following three "operands," which are provided in the instruction set list:

1) the imposition procedure, which includes the scaling, translation and rotation factors--[scale₋₋ x scale₋₋ y translate₋₋ x translate₋₋ y rotate];

2) the user space coordinates of the lower-left and upper-right corners of the rendering area of the page to be imposed, which will be used to generate a clipping path around the border of the virtual page in the raster memory 22--[clip₋₋ ll₋₋ x clip₋₋ ll₋₋ y clip₋₋ ur₋₋ x clip₋₋ ur₋₋ y]; and

3) the page width and page length--[page₋₋ size₋₋ x page₋₋ size₋₋ y].

FIG. 27 illustrates the program steps implemented by the setvirtualdevice procedure. A block 630 first determines whether the variable VirtualDeviceEnabled is set to true, indicating that the EnableVirtualDevice procedure has been executed and the showpage operator is set up to support virtual devices. If the block 630 determines that VirtualDeviceEnabled is false, a block 633 invokes the EnableVirtualDevice procedure. (A block 6333, which is implemented only in connection with the optional imposition-on-the-fly-procedures, will be described below.)

Next, a block 634 defines the variables PageX and PageY as the width and height of the virtual device, respectively. Similarly, a block 636 defines the variables ClipllX and ClipllY as the x and y coordinates of the lower-left corner of the virtual device and the variables ClipurX and ClipurY as the x and y coordinates of the upper-right corner of the virtual device.

A block 638 then calls the standard PostScript® initmatrix operator (renamed "systemdict₋₋ initmatrix"), which sets the [CTM] to the system default matrix for the current output device. A block 640 then executes the scale, translate and rotate operators with the operands to the setvirtualdevice procedure. These scale, translate and rotate operations alter the system default matrix to specify the virtual [CTM]. A block 642 saves the resultant virtual [CTM] in the variable DefaultMatrix. The virtual [CTM] specifies that the origin of the virtual device is at the position on the flat where the next page is to be rendered on the flat 456.

A decision-making block 644 then compares the page width (PageX) to the page height (PageY). If PageX is less than PageY, a block 646 sets the variable Portrait to true (indicating portrait orientation). Alternatively, if PageX is greater than PageY, a block 648 sets the variable Portrait to false (indicating landscape orientation).

Next, a block 650 calls the redefined initclip operator to set the clipping path around the border of the virtual page. (See FIG. 21).

The setvirtualdevice procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /setvirtualdevice {                                                                  impositiondict begin                                                           VirtualDeviceEnabled not { EnableVirtualDevice                           } if                                                                                 aload pop                                                                      /PageY exch def                                                                             % set page size                                                   /PageX exch def                                                                aload pop pop                                                                  /ClipurY exch def                                                                           % set clipping path                                         corners                                                                              /ClipurX exch def                                                              /ClipllY exch def                                                              /ClipllX exch def                                                              systemdict.sub.-- initmatrix                                                   aload pop                                                                      5 -2 roll scale                                                                             % execute scale,                                            translate                                                                            3 -2 roll translate                                                                         % and rotate                                                      rotate                                                                         DefaultMatrix systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix pop %                      set                                                                            % [CTM]                                                                              /Portrait PageX PageY lt def                                                   initclip     % set clipping path                                               end                                                                      } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The ImposeJob Procedure:

The ImposeJob procedure is invoked after references to the merged PostScript® files 450 and the instruction set have been placed on the Operands stack. Further, the above-described procedures and variables have been loaded into the impositiondict dictionary.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the ImposeJob procedure according to the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention. A block 652 invokes the EnableVirtualDevice procedure, described above in connection with FIG. 23, to set up the showpage operator to support virtual devices.

A block 654 then retrieves the first file/list pair (containing the name of the merged Postscript® file and the corresponding entry list with the user procedures, page numbers and operands for the setvirtualdevice procedures for the current flat 456) from the instruction set. The file/list pair is stored in an array that was placed on the Operands Stack prior to calling the ImposeJob procedure.

For each file/list pair, a block 656 invokes the ImposeFile procedure, described below, which retrieves each entry from the entry list and determines which pages described in the merged PostScript® file 450 should be rendered on the flat 456. Assuming more than one file/list pair is contained in the array, the blocks 654 and 656 are implemented in a loop which individually retrieves each file/list pair from the array and invokes the ImposeFile procedure to process each file/list pair.

After every file/list pair from the instruction set has been processed by the ImposeFile procedure, a block 658 sets the boolean variable ImageDone to true. ImageDone will be used to instruct the RIP 82 that the imposition job is complete and the flat 456 can be ejected. The value of ImageDone at this point could be determined by a global variable. ImageDone could also be set to true in the user procedure in the last entry of the last instruction set list.

Next, a block 660 determines whether the showpage operator was redefined to emulate level 2. If so, a block 662 executes the standard level 1 showpage operator (renamed "systemdict₋₋ showpage") in order to transmit the contents of the raster memory 452 to the demand printer 84 for physical rendering of the flat 456. In the level 2 implementation, the flat 456 is automatically rendered by the showpage operator when the redefined EndPage procedure returns a "true." (See FIG. 20). If the showpage operator was not redefined, a block 664 ends the program.

The blocks 652-662 of the ImposeJob procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /ImposeJob     % Impose pages from each input                                  file                                                                           impositiondict /EnableVirtualDevice get exec                                   {                  % Call ImposeFile for                                         aload pop pop    % each file in                                              instruction                                                                                     % set                                                           impositiondict /ImposeFile get                                                 exec                                                                         } forall                                                                       impositiondict /ImageDone true put                                             impositiondict /systemdict.sub.-- showpage                                     known {            % Did we redefine                                           showpage                                                                         impositiondict /systemdict.sub.-- showpage                                     get exec         %If yes, execute it.                                          } if                                                                         } def                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

(Blocks 653 and 657 of the ImposeJob procedure, which are implemented only in connection with the optional imposition-on-the-fly of the invention, will be described below.)

The ImposeFile Procedure:

FIG. 29 illustrates the program steps implemented by the ImposeFile procedure of the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the invention. When the ImposeFile procedure is invoked, the ImposeJob procedure has placed a file/list pair from the instruction set on the Operands stack. The file/list pair contains a list of entries (the "PageList"), wherein each entry specifies:

1) a first user procedure;

2) the number of the page to rendered on the flat 456;

3) the operands to the setvirtualdevice procedure (which generates the virtual [CTM] for properly positioning the page on the flat 456); and

4) a second user procedure (specifying offsets).

A block 670 sets the variable PageOffset =CurrentPage+PageOffset+1. CurrentPage (representing the number of the next page in the current merged Postscript® file 450 that is to be rendered on the flat 456) is initially 0 and PageOffset (representing the cumulative number of pages from previous files processed) is initially--1. Therefore, on the first pass of the ImposeFile procedure, PageOffset is equal to 0 (indicating that no previous files have been processed). A block 672 then uses the pointer CurrentIndex to retrieve the first entry from the entry list received from the ImposeJob procedure. A block 673 then retrieves the page number from the entry and sets CurrentPage equal to its value. Thus, CurrentPage now specifies the number of the first page in the current merged PostScript® file that should be rendered on the flat.

Next, a decision-making block 674 determines whether the first page in the current Postscript® file (page number 0) should be rendered on the flat by comparing CurrentPage to 0. If CurrentPage is equal to 0, the first page in the merged PostScript® file 450 should be imposed and rendered on the flat, and a block 675 executes the first user procedure contained in the current entry retrieved by the block 672. Alternatively, if the block 674 determines that the first page is not on the flat, a block 676 pops the first user procedure from the retrieved entry from the stack.

After the block 675 has executed the user procedure or after the block 676 pops the user procedure, a block 678 executes the setvirtualdevice procedure, which was described in detail above in connection with FIG. 25. The setvirtualdevice procedure sets the virtual [CTM] and the clipping path according to the operands included in the retrieved entry.

The blocks 670-678 of the ImposeFile procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /ImposeFile {                                                                  impositiondict begin                                                           /PageOffset CurrentPage PageOffset add 1 add                                   def                                                                            /PageList exch def                                                             /CurrentIndex 0 def                                                            PageList CurrentIndex get                                                                             % get entry                                             aload pop pop                                                                  5 -2 roll dup                                                                  /CurrentPage exch def                                                                             % get page number for                                       1st                                                                                             % page                                                        0 eq {             % if 1st page is on                                         flat                                                                           exec               % execute user                                              procedure                                                                      } {                                                                            pop                % if 1st page is not                                        on                                                                                              % flat                                                        } ifelse           % pop user procedure                                        setvirtualdevice                                                                               % call setvirtualdevice                                        ______________________________________                                    

Next, a decision-making block 680 determines whether the first page in the current PostScripte file (page number 0) should be rendered on the flat by comparing CurrentPage to 0. If CurrentPage is not equal to zero (i.e. the first page should not be rendered on the flat), a block 682 invokes a procedure called, for example, "MakeNull." The MakeNull procedure, which is described in detail below in connection with FIG. 30, creates a scaled-down version of the virtual device for the next page to be rendered on the flat. The MakeNull procedure will be used to quickly interpret pages included in the merged PostScript® file 450 that will not be rendered on the current flat 456. The block 682 also calls the redefined initclip operator (see FIG. 21).

After the block 682 executes the MakeNull procedure, or, alternatively, if the block 680 determines that CurrentPage is equal to zero (i.e. the first page should be rendered on the flat), a block 684 sets the variable LastPage equal to the page number of the last page in the PostScript® file to be rendered on the flat. The last page is determined by defining LastIndex as the number of entries in the instruction set minus one. The entries are indexed starting with zero (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3,) such that the last of four entries will be entry number 3. LastIndex is then used to retrieve the page number from the last entry in the entry list, which is stored in the variable LastPage. The block 684 thus determines the number of page descriptions in the current merged PostScript® file 450 that need to be interpreted in order to properly render all of the selected pages on the flat 456.

The blocks 680-684 of the ImposeFile procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /CurrentPage 0 ne {    % if page is not on                                     flat         MakeNull        % execute                                         MakeNull                                                                                            % procedure                                                      initclip                                                                       } if                                                                    /LastIndex PageList length 1 sub def                                           /LastPage PageList LastIndex get 1 get def                                     ______________________________________                                    

A block 686 then opens the current merged PostScript® file 450, if necessary, and defines a file object (i.e. "TheFile") to access the current merged PostScript® file 450. The block 686 then interprets the current merged PostScript® file 450, which contains various page descriptions, including the selected pages to be rendered on the current flat 456. Each page description includes the showpage operator, which will invoke the redefined EndPage and BeginPage procedures of the present invention.

Preferably, the block 686 executes the merged PostScript® file 450 in stopped mode, which dictates that the execution will stop once the last page that needs to be processed for the flat 456 is executed (determined by the value of LastPage). Once execution is complete, a block 688 flushes and closes the current PostScript® file and a block 690 returns to the block 654 of the ImposeJob procedure (FIG. 26) to retrieve the next file/list pair from the instruction set.

The blocks 686-690 of the ImposeFile procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         dup type 1 string type eq { (r) file } if                                      dup /TheFile exch def                                                          cvx                                                                            end                                                                            stopped { count 0 eq dup not                                                            { pop dup (done with current file) ne                                 } if                                                                                    { stop } { pop } ifelse                                               impositiondict /TheFile get dup flushfile                                      closefile                                                                      } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The MakeNull Procedure:

The MakeNull Procedure is invoked by the block 682 of the ImposeFile procedure before processing pages that will not be rendered on the current flat 456. The MakeNull Procedure creates a low resolution (scaled-down) replica of the virtual device for the next page to be rendered on the flat. This low resolution virtual device allows for fast processing of the non-rendered pages. The non-rendered pages are processed using a low resolution replica of the virtual device for the next page to be rendered on the flat to ensure that any marks generated by the processing do not overwrite a portion of the flat 456 that is already imaged.

The MakeNull procedure creates a low resolution replica of the virtual device by scaling the components of the virtual [CTM]. Further, the MakeNull procedure positions the scaled-down virtual device in the middle of the original virtual device. This ensures that the scaled-down virtual device will be completely contained within the clipping path defining the original virtual device.

As explained earlier, by definition, the virtual [CTM] contains the components [a b c d t_(x) t_(y) ] and specifies a transformation of the coordinates (x, y) in user space to the coordinates (x', y') in device space as follows:

    x'=ax+cy+t.sub.x

    y'=bx+dy+t.sub.y

The PostScript® language includes a scale operator which creates a temporary matrix from supplied x and y scale factors and concatenates the temporary matrix with the current [CTM]. The scale operator then replaces the current [CTM] with the resultant matrix.

Invoking the PostScript® scale operator with x and y scale factors (s_(x) and s_(y)) as operands, the scaled [CIM]=[s_(x) a s_(x) b s_(y) c s_(y) d t_(x) t_(y) ]. Thus, the new transformation from user to device space specified by the scaled [CTM] is given by:

    x'=s.sub.x ax+s.sub.y cy+t.sub.x                           (1)

    y'=s.sub.x bx+s.sub.y dy+t.sub.y.                          (2)

The exact scale factors s_(x) and s_(y) may vary according to the type of PostScript® RIP 82 used. However, a 1 to 1 ratio between user and device space coordinates leads to significantly faster processing of pages over normal processing on a high resolution device. Also, the PostScript® nulldevice operator installs a [CTM] with a 1 to 1 ratio of user to device coordinates. Therefore, although the scale factors could be tuned for optimal performance on a given Postscript® RIP 82, it is assumed that a 1 to 1 ratio between user and device space coordinates will run with reasonable efficiency on any PostScript® RIP 82. Thus, the scale factors s_(x) and s_(y) used by the MakeNull procedure are preferably calculated to achieve a 1 to 1 ratio between user and device space as follows.

To achieve a 1 to 1 ratio between user and device space coordinates with only the scale factors, the unit vector in user space from coordinate points (0,0) to (1,0) and from (0,0) to (0,1) must have unit length in device space. Therefore,

    .linevert split.(x'(1,0), y'(1,0))-(x'(0, 0), y'(0, 0)).linevert split.=1(3)

and

    .linevert split.(x'(0,1), y'(0,1))-(x'(0,0), y'(0,0)).linevert split.=1.(4)

From equations (1) and (3),

.linevert split.(s_(x) a+t_(x), s_(x) b+t_(y))-(t_(x), t_(y)).linevert split.=1

.linevert split.(s_(x) a, s_(x) b).linevert split.=1

.linevert split.(s_(x) a)² +(s_(x) b)²)^(1/2) =1

Thus, s_(x) =1/(a² +b²)^(1/2).

Similarly, s_(y) =1/(c² +d²)^(1/2).

FIG. 30 illustrates the program steps implemented by the MakeNull procedure. A block 698 first determines and saves the device space coordinates of the midpoint of the virtual clipping path. The midpoint (mpx, mpy) is determined by first retrieving the corner coordinates of the virtual clipping path, which are stored in the variables ClipllX, ClipurX, ClipllY, and ClipurY. The x-axis midpoint (mpx) is calculated by adding the lower left and upper right x-axis corner coordinates (ClipllX and ClipurX) and dividing by two. Similarly, the y-axis midpoint (mpy) is calculated by adding the y-axis corner coordinates (ClipllY and ClipurY) and dividing by two. After the midpoint is calculated, the standard PostScript® transform operator (renamed "systemdict₋₋ transform") is executed to convert the user space coordinates to device space coordinates.

Next, a block 700 gets the virtual [CTM] which is stored in the variable DefaultMatrix. A block 702 then calculates the scale factors, s_(x) and s_(y), as specified above and a block 704 applies the scale factors to the virtual [CTM]. A block 706 then saves the scaled virtual [CTM] as the new virtual [CTM] in the variable DefaultMatrix.

A block 708 then sets the midpoint of the scaled clipping path (specified by the new virtual [CTM]) to correspond with the coordinates of the midpoint of the original clipping path (saved by the block 698). The block 708 determines the difference between the saved midpoint coordinates and the new midpoint coordinates and then translates the new coordinates by that difference.

The MakeNull procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /MakeNull {                                                                    impositiondict begin                                                           ClipllX ClipurX add 2 div ClillY ClipurY add 2                                 div                                                                            systemdict.sub.-- transform                                                    /mpy exch def           % calculate                                            /mpx exch def           % midpoint                                             DefaultMatrix                                                                  dup                                                                            dup dup                                                                        dup 0 get dup mul       % compute a.sup.2                                      exch 1 get dup mul      % compute b.sup.2                                      add 1 exch div sqrt dup 1.0 gt                                                                         % compute s.sub.x                                      { pop 1.0 } if exch                                                            dup 2 get dup mul       % compute c.sup.2                                      exch 3 get dup mul      % compute d.sup.2                                      add 1 exch div sqrt dup 1.0 gt                                                                         % compute s.sub.y                                      { pop 1.0 } if                                                                 Matrix scale            % scale                                                matrix                                                                         exch Matrix2 concatmatrix                                                                              % save as the new                                      systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                                            % virtual default                                                              % matrix                                               ClipllX ClipurX add 2 div ClipllY ClipurY add 2                                div                                                                            systemdict.sub.-- transform                                                    /mpy exch mpy sub neg def                                                                              % translate                                            /mpx exch mpx sub neg def                                                                              % midpoint                                             mpx mpy systemdict.sub.-- idtransform translate                                systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix pop                                            end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined EndPage Procedure:

The page descriptions contained in the merged PostScript® file 450 all include the showpage operator, which will invoke the redefined EndPage and BeginPage procedures.

The redefined EndPage procedure updates the CurrentPage variable, which represents the number of the next page in the merged PostScript® file 450 that should be imposed and rendered on the flat. The redefined EndPage procedure also calls the setvirtualdevice and MakeNull procedures for the pages to be interpreted.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined EndPage procedure. A block 710 determines whether the EndPage procedure was called by the showpage operator by determining whether the reason code is 0. A block 712 compares CurrentPage plus PageOffset to PageCount to determine whether the current page in the Postscript® file should be imposed and rendered on the flat 456.

Assuming both of the blocks 710 and 712 are true, a block 713 set ups the default environment by calling the standard initgraphics operator (now renamed "systemdict₋₋ initgraphics"). The block 713 then retrieves and executes the second user procedure (containing, for example, the offset instructions) from the current entry. If the second user procedure contains offset instructions, the PostScript® file will be repositioned to the start of the next page to be included in the book, thereby skipping processing of any irrelevant pages. If the second user procedure contains other instructions (such as barcodes, watermarks, etc.), they will also be executed.

Next, a block 714 increments the pointer CurrentIndex, which will be used to retrieve the next entry from the entry list (PageList). The decision-making block 716 then determines whether there is another entry in the instruction set by comparing CurrentIndex to LastIndex.

If CurrentIndex is less than or equal to LastIndex, a block 718 resets the graphics state to its system default value by calling the standard Postscript® initgraphics operator (now renamed "systemdict₋₋ initgraphics"). A block 720 then uses CurrentIndex to retrieve the next entry in the entry list to place the operands for the setvirtualdevice procedure on the Operands stack and a block 722 invokes the setvirtualdevice procedure.

A block 724 then sets CurrentPage equal to the number of the page from the retrieved entry. CurrentPage is now updated to contain the number of the next page from the merged PostScripte file 450 that should be imposed and rendered on the flat 456.

Next, a block 726 invokes the MakeNull procedure to set up the low resolution virtual device for processing of non-rendered pages. The MakeNull procedure is called because it is assumed that the next page in the merged PostScript5 file 450 will not be rendered on the flat 456. (If the next page should be rendered on the flat, the redefined BeginPage procedure, described in detail below, will establish the virtual device for that page). A block 728 then removes the user procedure (which is contained in the retrieved entry) from the Operands Stack.

If any of the blocks 710, 712 or 716 are false, or after the block 728 pops the user procedure, a block 730 places the value of the variable ImageDone on the stack. If ImageDone has the value of true, indicating that the flat is completed, the calling of the EndPage procedure (i.e., by the showpage operator or for new device activation) will automatically transfer the contents of the raster memory 452 to the demand printer 84 to physically render the selected pages on the flat 456. (See FIG. 19).

A block 732 then resets ImageDone to false to specify that the flat is not completed and the contents of the raster memory 452 will not yet be transferred to the demand printer 84 for physical rendering.

The redefined EndPage procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /Endpage {                                                                            impositiondict begin                                                           0 eq                                                                           exch                                                                           CurrentPage PageOffset add eq                                                  and {                                                                               systemdict.sub.-- initgraphics                                                 PageList CurrentIndex get                                                      5 get exec                                                                     /CurrentIndex CurrentIndex 1 add def                                           CurrentIndex LastIndex le {                                                        systemdict.sub.-- initgraphics                                                 PageList CurrentIndex get                                                      aload pop                                                                      setvirtualdevice                                                               /CurrentPage exch def                                                          MakeNull                                                                       pop                                                                            } if                                                                       } if                                                                      ImageDone                                                                      /ImageDone false def                                                           end                                                                     } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined BeginPage Procedure:

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined BeginPage procedure. A block 740 first calls the redefined initmatrix operator to set the virtual [CTM].

Referring also to FIG. 20, the BeginPage procedure receives PageCount as an operand from the showpage operator. A decision-making block 742 compares CurrentPage (which was updated by the block 724 of the redefined EndPage procedure of FIG. 31) to PageCount. CurrentPage contains the number of the next page in the PostScript® file to be rendered on the flat 456. Thus, if CurrentPage and PageCount are equal, the current page in the merged PostScript® file 450 should be imposed and rendered on the flat 456 and a block 744 retrieves the next entry (containing the user procedures, page number and setvirtualdevice operands) from the entry list.

A block 745 then executes the user procedure from the retrieved entry and a block 746 invokes the setvirtualdevice procedure to set up the virtual [CTM] and clipping path for the virtual device (see FIG. 27). A block 748 then pops the page number from the retrieved entry.

Next, a block 750 "blanks out" the virtual page by coloring the area inside of the clipping path white. This is necessary to erase any stray marks that may have been placed on the page when the non-rendered pages were processed using the MakeNull procedure.

Alternatively, if the block 742 determines that the next page in the merged PostScript® file 450 should not be rendered on the flat (i.e. CurrentPage is not equal to PageCount), a decision-making block 752 compares PageCount to LastPage plus PageOffset. If PageCount is greater than LastPage plus PageOffset, subsequent pages in the PostScript® file do not need to be interpreted because they are beyond the last page that should be rendered on the flat 456. Thus, a block 754 stops the execution of the merged PostScript® file 450. As explained earlier, the ImposeFile procedure executes the merged PostScript® file 450 in stopped context. In order to distinguish between the expected stop in the block 754 and an unexpected stop caused, for example, by a Postscript® error, the string "done with current file" is generated by the block 754 of the redefined BeginPage procedure. Referring also to FIG. 27, the block 386 of the ImposeFile procedure checks for the "done with current file" string to determine when to proceed to the block 688 to flush and close the merged Postscript® file 450.

Alternatively, if the block 752 determines that PageCount is less than or equal to LastPage plus PageOffset (i.e. the current page is before the last page to be rendered on the flat), a block 756 calls the redefined initclip operator to reset the virtual clipping path. (See FIG. 20).

The redefined BeginPage procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /BeginPage {                                                                   initmatrix                                                                     impositiondict begin                                                           dup                                                                            CurrentPage PageOffset add eq {                                                                        % page on                                              flat                                                                                   pop             % pop                                                  PageCount                                                                              PageList CurrentIndex get                                                                      % get entry                                                    aload pop                                                                      5 -1 roll                                                                      exec        % execute user                                             procedure                                                                              setvirtualdevice                                                               pop         % pop the page number                                              clippath 1 setgray fill % blank out                                    virtual                                                                                            % page                                                             0 setgray newpath                                                              } bind {        % page not                                             on                                                                                                   % flat                                                           LastPage PageOffset add gt {                                                     end (done with current file) stop }                                  if                                                                                     initclip                                                                       } ifelse                                                               end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The ImageDone Variable:

As explained earlier, the variable ImageDone is a boolean variable used to indicate when all the pages for the current flat 456 have been interpreted and painted into the raster memory 452 such that the flat 456 can be physically rendered by the demand printer 84. ImageDone is initially and normally set to false, indicating that the current flat 456 has not yet been completed. However, referring to FIG. 26, after all the file/list pairs from the instruction set have been processed by the ImposeJob Aprocedure, the block 658 sets ImageDone to true to indicate that the flat is completed. Also, the user procedure contained in the last entry in a file/list pair in the instruction set could include an instruction to set ImageDone to true to specify that the current flat is completed.

The ImageDone variable is used by the redefined EndPage procedure. Referring to FIGS. 20 and 31, the block 730 of the redefined EndPage procedure returns the value of ImageDone to the block 502 of the showpage operator. If ImageDone is true, the block 504 transmits the contents of the raster memory to the demand printer to render the current flat.

The ImageDone variable may be utilized to allow for multiple flats to be rendered by a single file/list pair in the instruction set (see Appendix I sample instruction set).

The Showdevice Procedure:

The imposition-on-the-fly procedures may include an additional procedure, called, for example, "showdevice," which uses the ImageDone variable to allow a user to render the flat at any time. The showdevice procedure sets ImageDone to true and then calls the showpage operator, which will invoke the redefined EndPage procedure and render the current flat, as described above.

The showdevice procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /showdevice {                                                                          impositiondict /ImageDone true put                                             showpage                                                               } def                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

The showdevice procedure will normally be used when a user implements the setvirtualdevice (and related) procedures in a non-imposition application in which the ImposeJob and ImposeFile procedures are eliminated. For example, the showdevice procedure could be implemented to render any selected page(s) contained in the merged PostScript® file 450.

Optional Imposition-on-the-Fly Procedures:

Optionally, additional procedures may be included in the imposition-on-the-fly procedures which will allow the proper imposition of page descriptions using the Postscript® save and restore operators.

The PostScript® save operator takes a "snapshot" of the state of virtual memory, which stores all values of composite objects, such as strings and arrays. Many of the variables used by the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention are stored in virtual memory. The save operator also saves the current graphics state by pushing a copy of the current graphics state onto the Graphics State Stack. The PostScript® restore operator restores the virtual memory and the current graphics state to the state at the time the corresponding save operator was executed.

The PostScript® gsave operator pushes a copy of the current graphics state onto the Graphics State Stack and the Postscript® grestore operator pops the saved graphics state from the Graphics State Stack and restores it as the current graphics state. The PostScript® grestoreall operator restores either the bottom-most graphics state stored on the Graphics State Stack or the first graphics state that was stored by the save operator (as opposed to the gsave operator). The elements of the current graphics state affected by these operators include the current [CTM], clipping path and current path. However, they do not affect the contents of the raster memory 452.

The PostScript® save and restore operators may adversely affect the imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention, as well as on other imposition methods. The problem arises if a page description in the merged PostScript® file 450 invokes a save operator, which will save the [CTM] that specifies the desired position for that page on the device. If a subsequent page description invokes a restore operator, the [CTM] for the prior page will replace the [CTM] for the subsequent page. Thus, the subsequent page will be incorrectly positioned on the flat 456.

To overcome this problem, two new procedures (Vsave and Vrestore) are used in connection with the above-described procedures. The Vsave and Vrestore procedures will be used to redefine the PostscriptO save and restore operators such that they do not interfere with the other imposition-on-the-fly procedures of the present invention.

The Vsave Procedure:

Generally, the Vsave procedure appends the page size components (PageX and PageY) and the virtual [CTM] components (which define the virtual device) to the current path, which will be saved by the PostScript® save operator. Later, the Vrestore procedure will retrieve these components, remove them from the current path, and use them to generate the correct clipping path, page orientation and [CTM] for the restored page.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the optional Vsave procedure. A block 800 saves a copy of the current [CTM] and then a block 801 sets the [CTM] equal to an identity matrix ([1 0 0 1 0 0]).

The identity matrix is used because all points used to describe the current path are specified in user space coordinates. However, at the time a PostScript® program enters a point into the current path, each coordinate is transformed into device space according to the [CTM]. Thus, the identity matrix will be used when adding the components to the current path to avoid any round off errors that may occur in this conversion from user space to device space.

A decision-making block 802 then determines whether a currentpoint is defined. If a currentpoint is defined, a block 804 sets the variable p1 equal to the current path. This may be accomplished by invoking the previously defined MakePath procedure, which creates a description of the current path in the current coordinate system. (The MakePath procedure was described above in connection with the block 524 of the redefined initclip operator of FIG. 20).

A block 806 then defines a variable called, for example, "firstop" to be the PostScript® lineto operator. By definition, the PostScript® lineto operator adds a straight line segment to the current path by connecting the previous current point to the new one.

Alternatively, if the block 802 determines that no currentpoint exists, a block 808 sets p1 equal to an empty path. A block 810 then defines firstop to be the Postscript® moveto operator, which establishes a new currentpoint.

After firstop is defined by either the block 806 or the block 810, a block 812 creates an "unlimited" bounding box for the current path. A bounding box, which is normally established by the PostScript® setbbox operator, defines the area in which the current path coordinates must fall. The operands to the setbbox operator are the user space coordinates of the lower-left and upper-right corners of the bounding box. Since the page size and [CTM] components will be added to the current path during the Vsave procedure, the bounding box must be set large enough to encompass the "points" defined by those components. Thus, a previously defined procedure called, for example, "SetBigBBox," may be invoked to set the bounding box to be the largest possible. The SetBigBBox procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /SetBigBBox /setbbox where {                                                   pop {                                                                                  -2147483648 -2147483648 2147483648                                     2147483648                                                                             setbbox                                                                        } bind def                                                             } {                                                                            } def                                                                          } ifelse                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

After the large bounding box is set, a block 814 invokes the firstop operator (defined by the block 806 or the block 810) to append the page size components (PageX and PageY) to the current path. Next, a block 818 appends the virtual [CTM] components (stored in the variable DefaultMatrix) to the current path. A block 820 then replaces the identity [CTM] with the [CTM] that was saved by the block 800.

The Vsave procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /Vsave {                                                                       Matrix systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix                                         dup                                                                            Identity systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                                   % [CTM] =                                                                      % identity                                             { currentpoint } stopped {                                                                             % no current                                                                   % point                                                /p1 { } def             % define                                               empty                                                                                                % path                                                            /firstop { moveto } def                                                        } {            % current                                              point         pop pop         %                                                create real                                                                                            % path                                                          /p1 MakePath def                                                               /firstop { lineto } def                                                        } ifelse                                                              SetBigBBox                                                                     PageX PageY firstop     % append                                               page                                                                                                   % size                                                 DefaultMatrix                                                                  aload pop                                                                      lineto                  % append                                               [CTM]                                                                          lineto                                                                         lineto                                                                         systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Vrestore Procedure:

The Vrestore procedure retrieves the page size and virtual [CTM] components (which defined the virtual device) appended to the current path by the Vsave procedure and uses them to generate the correct clipping path, page orientation and virtual [CTM] for the restored page.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the Vrestore procedure. A block 830 saves the current [CTM] and a block 832 then sets the [CTM] to an identity matrix. As in the Vsave procedure, the use of the identity [CTM] will avoid any round off errors when transforming coordinates from user space to device space in the current path.

A block 834 then retrieves the elements of the current path by calling the PostScript® pathforall operator, which pushes the user space coordinates of each path element onto the Operands stack. The retrieved elements will include the page size and virtual [CTM] components that were appended to the path by the Vsave procedure. A block 836 then performs various stack manipulation operations to place the page size and virtual [CTM] components on top of the stack. The block 836 then stores the components in variables called, for example, "ResDefaultMatrix," "ResPageX" and "ResPageY," which represent the page size and virtual [CTM] at the time that the Postscript® save operator was called.

Next, a decision-making block 838 compares the ResDefaultMatrix (at time of save) to the current virtual [CTM] (at time of restore), which is saved in the variable DefaultMatrix. The equivalency of the matrices may be easily determined by using a previously defined utility routine, called, for example, "EqualMatrix," which performs a component-by-component comparison of the two matrices, allowing for a slight floating point round-off error. If the two matrices are equivalent, the EqualMatrix routine returns a true on the stack; if they are not equivalent, the EqualMatrix routine returns a false. The EqualMatrix routine may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /EqualMatrix {                                                                 true                                                                           impositiondict begin                                                           /Count 0 def                                                                   6 { 1 index Count get 3 index Count get                                                 eq                                                                             sub abs .0001 lt and                                                           /Count Count 1 add def } repeat                                       3 1 roll pop pop                                                               end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

If the block 838 determines that the restored [CTM] and current [CTM] are not equivalent, it is assumed that the save operator was called during interpretation of one page and the restore operator was called during interpretation of another page. A block 840 then sets the [CTM] back to the value saved by the block 830. Next, a block 842 calls p1, which contains the current path at the time the save operator was called. The block 842 then removes the page size and [CTM] components that were added to the current path and sets p1 equal to the remaining path elements.

The blocks 830-842 of the Vrestore procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /Vrestore {                                                                           Matrix systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix                                         Identity systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                           mark                                                                           {} {} {} {} pathforall                                                         6 2 roll                                                                       4 2 roll                                                                       mark 7 1 roll                                                                  ] /ResDefaultMatrix exch def                                                   /ResPageY exch def                                                             /ResPageX exch def                                                             cleartomark                                                                    DefaultMatrix ResDefaultMatrix EqualMatrix                              not                                                                                   {                                                                                 systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    /pl mark                                                                       MakePath aload pop                                                             pop pop pop                                                                    pop pop pop                                                                    pop pop pop                                                                    pop pop pop                                                                    ] cvx def                                                            ______________________________________                                    

Next, a decision-making block 844 determines the orientation of the restored page by comparing ResPageX to ResPageY. If ResPageX is greater than ResPageY, a variable called ResPortrait is set to false to indicate a landscape orientation. Alternatively, if ResPageX is less than ResPageY, the variable ResPortrait is set to true to indicate a portrait orientation. The block 844 then compares ResPortrait (the restored page orientation) to Portrait (the saved page orientation). If the page orientation has changed (ResPortrait and Portrait are not equal), a block 846 calls the SetPortrait procedure to change the orientation of the device. (See FIGS. 25 and 26A&B).

The blocks 844 and 846 of the Vrestore procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                  ResPageX ResPageY gt {                                                           /ResPortrait false def                                                         } {                                                                            /ResPortrait true def                                                          } ifelse                                                                     ResPortrait Portrait ne {                                                        SetPortrait                                                                    } if                                                                ______________________________________                                    

If the block 844 determines that the orientation is the same, or after the block 846 corrects the orientation, a block 848 saves the procedures for generating the current clipping path in a variable called, for example, "c1," by calling the MakePath procedure.

A block 850 then calculates the new [CTM] by determining the accumulation of operations applied on the restored virtual [CTM] and applying those operations on the current virtual [CTM]. The block 850 calculates the new [CTM] by first getting the current [CTM], which may be considered the result of the restored virtual [CTM] (i.e., the virtual [CTM] restored from the save operator) concatenated with an operations matrix. The block 850 then calculates the operations matrix by concatenating the current [CTM] with the inverse of the restored virtual [CTM]. The operations matrix is then concatenated with the current virtual [CTM] to generate the new [CTM]. Thus, the block 850 assumes that:

[current CTM]=[operations] [restored virtual CTM].

Further, the block 850 performs the following operations:

[operations]=[current CTM] [restored virtual CTM]⁻¹ ;

and

[new CTM]=[operations] [current virtual CTM].

The blocks 848 and 850 of the Vrestore procedure may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         clippath        % generate clip path                                           procedures                                                                     /c1 MakePath def                                                               Matrix systemdict.sub.-- currentmatrix                                                                 % calculate                                            new                                                                            ResDefaultMatrix        % [CTM]                                                Matrix2 invertmatrix                                                           Matrix3 concatmatrix                                                           DefaultMatrix Matrix4 concatmatrix                                                    systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                             ______________________________________                                    

A block 852 then regenerates the clipping path (saved in c1) and a block 854 regenerates the current path (saved in p1) in the new coordinate system specified by the new [CTM]. The blocks 852 and 854 may be implemented by the following code:

systemdict₋₋ initclip

newpath

c1

clip newpath

p1}

Alternatively, if the block 838 determines that the restored virtual [CTM] is equivalent to the current virtual [CTM] (i.e., the save and restore operators were called on the same page), a block 856 simply removes the page size and virtual [CTM] components from the current path. A block 858 then restores the current path and a block 860 sets the [CTM] back to the value saved by the block 830.

The blocks 856-860 may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                    {                                                                              /pl mark                                                                       MakePath aload pop                                                             pop pop pop                                                                    pop pop pop                                                                    pop pop pop                                                                    pop pop pop                                                                    ] cvx def                                                                      newpath                                                                        p1                                                                             systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    } ifelse                                                                     } bind def                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined PostScript® Save Operators:

The Postscript® save operators (which include save and gsave) are redefined to invoke the Vsave procedure. Before the operators are redefined, however, they are renamed ("systemdict₋₋ operator," for example) because their normal operation is defined in the systemdict dictionary. The save operators may be renamed by the following code:

/systemdict₋₋ save systemdict /save get def

/systemdict₋₋ gsave systemdict /gsave get def

The Postscript® save and gsave operators are then redefined. FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented to redefine the Postscript® save operators. A block 872 first invokes the Vsave procedure, which was described above in connection with FIG. 33. The Vsave procedure saves the current path in pi and then appends the page size and virtual [CTM] components to the current path.

A block 874 then invokes the standard PostScript® save (or gsave) operator (now renamed "systemdict₋₋ save" or "systemdict₋₋ gsave"). The save operator performs its standard function of saving the current state of virtual memory and the current graphics state, including the current path (which now includes the page size and virtual [CTM] components). The gsave operator performs its standard function of saving the current graphics state.

Next, a block 876 sets the [CTM] to an identity matrix. As before, this will eliminate any round off errors in the current path. A block 878 then restores the current path to the path stored in pi (the path without the added page size and virtual [CTM] components) and a block 880 restores the [CTM] back to the virtual [CTM].

The blocks 870-880 for redefining the PostScript® save operator may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                /save {                                                                          impositiondict begin                                                           Vsave                                                                          systemdict.sub.-- save                                                         Identity systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                           newpath                                                                        p1                                                                             exch systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                               end                                                                          } bind def                                                              ______________________________________                                    

Similarly, the PostScript® gsave operator may be redefined by implementing the following code:

    ______________________________________                                                /gsave {                                                                         impositiondict begin                                                           Vsave                                                                          systemdict.sub.-- gsave                                                        Identity systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                           newpath                                                                        p1                                                                             systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                                    end                                                                            } bind def                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined Postscript® Restore Operators:

The PostScript® restore operator must also be renamed and redefined to invoke the Vrestore procedure. Like the save operators, the restore operator is renamed, for example, "systemdict₋₋ restore," by the following code:

/systemdict₋₋ restore systemdict /restore get def

Because the PostScript® save and restore operators affect the contents of virtual memory and the graphics state, the values of many variables used during the imposition and setvirtualdevice procedures may be inadvertently altered by the use of these operators. However, simple values stored on the Operands Stack are not affected. Therefore, the PostScript® restore operator is redefined to protect the values of the variables stored in virtual memory by saving them on the Operands Stack before calling the standard PostScript® restore operator.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined restore operator. A block 892 places the values of all the imposition variables stored in virtual memory on the Operands stack so their values are not overwritten by the restore operator. Then, a block 894 calls the standard restore operator (now renamed "systemdict₋₋ restore"). A block 896 then puts the values of the variables on the Operands stack back to their pre-restore values. Lastly, a block 898 invokes the Vrestore procedure.

The blocks 892-898 of the redefined restore operator may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /restore {                                                                     impositiondict begin                                                           ImageDone        % put variables on                                            stack                                                                          CurrentIndex                                                                   CurrentPage                                                                    PageCount                                                                      Portrait                                                                       PageX                                                                          PageY                                                                          ClipllX                                                                        ClipllY                                                                        ClipurX                                                                        ClipurY                                                                        mark DefaultMatrix                                                                              % put [CTM] components                                        on                                                                             aload pop        % stack                                                       19 -1 roll                                                                     systemdict.sub.-- restore                                                                       % call standard restore                                       operator                                                                       /DefaultMatrix exch def                                                                         % replace variables                                           with                                                                           /ClipurY exch def                                                                               % pre-restore values                                          /ClipurX exch def                                                              /ClipllY exch def                                                              /ClipllX exch def                                                              /PageY exch def                                                                /PageX exch def                                                                /Portrait exch def                                                             /PageCount exch def                                                            /CurrentPage exch def                                                          /CurrentIndex exch def                                                         /ImageDone exch def                                                            Vrestore         % invoke Vrestore                                             procedure                                                                      end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The Redefined PostScript® grestore Operators:

The standard PostScript® grestore or grestoreall operators, are renamed, for example, "systemdict₋₋ operator." This may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /systemdict.sub.-- grestore systemdict /grestore get                           def                                                                            /systemdict.sub.-- grestoreall systemdict /grestoreall                         get def                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Because the PostScript® grestore and grestoreall operators affect only the graphics state, it is not necessary to protect the values of any variable stored in virtual memory. Thus, the grestore or grestoreall operators are more simply redefined.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating the program steps implemented by the redefined PostScript® grestore and grestoreall operators. A block 902 invokes the renamed standard grestore or grestoreall operator and then a block 904 invokes the Vrestore procedure, which will calculate the correct [CTM] and correct the page orientation and clipping path.

The blocks 902-904 for redefining the PostScript® grestore operator may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /grestore {                                                                            impositiondict begin                                                           systemdict.sub.-- grestore                                                     Vrestore                                                                       end                                                                    } bind def                                                                     Similarly, the grestoreall operator may be                                     redefined by implementing by the following code:                               /grestoreall {                                                                         impositiondict begin                                                           systemdict.sub.-- grestoreall                                                  Vrestore                                                                       end                                                                    } bind def                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The PostScript® Level 2 Gstate Operators:

Level 2 Postscript® implementations support the following three additional operators that affect the current graphics state (and therefore the [CTM]) and that may interfere with the imposition procedures of the present invention: gstate, currentgstate and setgstate. The PostScript® gstate operator creates a new graphics state object (whose initial value is the current graphic state) and pushes it on the Operand stack. The PostScript® currentgstate operator replaces the value of the gstate object with the current graphics state. The PostScript® setgstate operator replaces the current graphics state with the value of the gstate object.

Similarly to the gsave and grestore operators described above, the gstate operators are renamed and redefined to invoke the Vsave the Vrestore procedures. The gstate operators may be renamed by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /gstate where {   % is this level 2?                                                  pop                                                                            /systemdict.sub.-- gstate systemdict /gstate get                        def                                                                                   /systemdict.sub.-- setgstate systemdict                                 /setgstate get def                                                                    /systemdict.sub.-- currentgstate systemdict                                      /currentgstate get def                                                } if                                                                           ______________________________________                                    

Similar to the redefined gsave operator described above in connection with FIG. 35, the gstate and currentgstate operators are redefined to first invoke the Vsave procedure and then to call the renamed standard gstate or currentgstate operator. The redefined operators then restore the current path without the page size and [CTM] components and reset the virtual [CTM].

Also, like the redefined grestore operator described above in connection with FIG. 37, the setgstate operator is redefined to first call the renamed setgstate operator and then to invoke the Vrestore procedure.

The PostScript® level 2 gstate operators may be redefined by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /gstate where {                                                                           % is this level 2?                                                  pop                                                                            /gstate {  % redefine gstate operator                                          impositiondict begin  % (like gsave                                            operator)                                                                      Vsave                                                                          systemdict.sub.-- gstate                                                       Identity systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                           newpath                                                                        p1                                                                             exch systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                               end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     /currentgstate {                                                                             % redefine currengstate                                          operator                                                                       impositiondict begin                                                                           % (like gsave                                                                % operator)                                                      Vsave                                                                          systemdict.sub.-- currentgstate                                                Identity systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                           newpath                                                                        p1                                                                             exch systemdict.sub.-- setmatrix                                               end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     /setgstate {  % redefine setgstate                                             operator                                                                       impositiondict begin                                                                           % (like grestore                                                               % operator)                                                    systemdict.sub.-- setgstate                                                    Vrestore                                                                       end                                                                            } bind def                                                                     } if                                                                           ______________________________________                                    

These optional procedures are used when it is anticipated that the page descriptions in the merged PostScript® file 450 may include a save operator in one page description and a restore operator in a subsequent page description. If the optional procedures are used, a slight modification should be made to the setvirtualdevice procedure, described above in connection with FIG. 27. Referring to FIG. 27, an additional block 633 invokes the redefined save operator and then pops the save object from the Operands Stack after the block 632 invokes the EnableVirtualDevice procedure. This is necessary because the grestore and grestoreall operators can be called without a corresponding save or gsave operator. If grestore is called without a gsave operator, it restores the graphics state from the top of the graphics state stack. If grestoreall is called without a gsave or save operator, it restores either the graphics state from the bottom of the graphics state stack or the graphics state saved by the last save operator. If the topmost save object was created prior to the redefinition of the save operator, the saved current path will not include the additions of the page size and [CTM] components and, therefore, will not operate properly with the redefined grestore and grestorall operators. Thus, invoking the redefined save operator at the block 633 of the setvirtualdevice procedure ensures that the grestore and grestoreall operators will always restore a saved graphics state compatible with the present invention.

The blocks 630-633 of the setvirtualdevice procedure may be implemented by the following code: VirtualDeviceEnabled not {EnablevirtualDevice save POP} if

Also, in some Postscript® applications, interpreting different PostScript® files consecutively may interfere with the operation of the invention. For example, two different Postscript® files may use the same name for variables with different definitions. If the second PostScript® file interpreted does not explicitly initialize the variable, the definition of the variable from the first PostScript® file will be used, interfering with proper interpretation of the second PostScript® file. To overcome this problem, the ImposeJob procedure (FIG. 28) may be altered.

Referring to FIG. 28, blocks 653 and 657 are added to the ImposeJob procedure to save the state of virtual memory (which includes many variable definitions) before retrieving a file/list pair from the instruction set and restoring that saved state before retrieving the next file/list pair. Specifically, the block 653 executes the redefined save operator and stores the saved state in a variable called, for example, "SavedState." The blocks 654 and 656 then retrieve a file/list pair from the instruction set and invoke the ImposeFile procedure to process the file/list pair, as described above. However, after the ImposeFile procedure finishes processing each entry in the file/list pair, the block 657 retrieves the saved state stored in the variable SavedState and executes the redefined restore operator to restore that state. The block 657 thus initializes the virtual memory before the block 654 retrieves the next file/list pair from the instruction set.

The blocks 650-662 of the ImposeJob procedure incorporating the blocks 653 and 657 may be implemented by the following code:

    ______________________________________                                         /ImposeJob      % Impose pages from each                                       input                                                                                          % file                                                         impositiondict /EnableVirtualDevice get exec                                   {                                                                              aload pop pop                                                                  impositiondict  /SavedState                                                           save put % save state                                                   impositiondict  /ImposeFile                                                           get      % call ImposeFile for each                                     exec            % file in instruction set                                                      % cleardictstack                                               clear                                                                          impositiondict  /SavedState get                                                       restore  % restore saved state                                          } forall                                                                       impositiondict                                                                              /ImageDone true put                                               impositiondict                                                                              /systemdict.sub.-- showpage                                       known {         % Did we redefine showpage                                     impositiondict /systemdict.sub.-- showpage                                     get exec        % If yes, execute it.                                          } if                                                                           } def                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

Further, as explained earlier, for compatibility with the optional procedures, the PostScript® erasepage operator is redefined by calling the systemdict₋₋ gsave and grestore operators. All of the remaining imposition-on-the-fly procedures are compatible with the optional procedures.

Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. 

We claim:
 1. A method of reproducing books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book and fulfillment piece may include variable data, comprising the steps of:(a) modifying a database containing variable data for pages in the book to include reference to the fulfillment pieces; (b) creating template page files, the page files having fixed information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable data will be reproduced; (c) generating a press command file to specify the distribution order in which the pages and the fulfillment pieces should be reproduced; (d) interpreting the pages and fulfillment pieces according to the press command file, including incorporating the variable data from the database into the pages at the location of the corresponding placeholder; and (e) transmitting the pages and fulfillment pieces to a display device in distribution order.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is a demand printer that prints the pages and fulfillment pieces.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is a computer.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pages and fulfillment pieces are transmitted to a computer network.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching the fulfillment pieces to the pages to be distributed to a single address.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference to the fulfillment piece in the database comprises a file name corresponding to the fulfillment piece.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fulfillment pieces are generated as QuarkXPress® files.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the database contains a record for each person and the step of modifying the database comprises:(i) adding one column to the database for each fulfillment piece; and (ii) for each column, adding the reference to the fulfillment piece for each person in each record.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating a press command file comprises:(i) creating a separate press command file for each book and each fulfillment piece; (ii) for each record in the modified database, copying the press command file for the book and the press command file for each fulfillment piece referenced; and (iii) merging the copied press command files into a new press command file.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the database comprises:(i) creating a controlling database containing variable data for the book, a record for each person and a column including a unique identification for each person; and (ii) creating a fulfillment database for each fulfillment piece, wherein each fulfillment database contains variable information for the fulfillment piece, a record for each person and a column including the unique identification for each person.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating a press command file comprises:(i) creating a separate press command file for each book and each fulfillment piece; (ii) analyzing the controlling database for identification numbers and for each identification number, searching each fulfillment database for the records containing that unique identification; (iii) for each record in each fulfillment database containing that identification number, copying a press command file associated with the identification number; and (iv) merging the copied press command files into a new press command file.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding a number of blank page files to the template page files, wherein the number of blank page files corresponds to a maximum number of pages in the fulfillment pieces.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pages of the fulfillment pieces are generated as QuarkXPress® files and stored in EPS format.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting an image box on each added blank page file.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein each image box is named corresponding to a column name in the modified database.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the database contains a record for each person and each page in the fulfillment pieces is stored in a named file, and wherein the step of modifying the database further comprises adding the file name of the fulfillment piece pages for each record.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the database contains a record for each person and the step of modifying the database comprises adding an additional number of records for each person, wherein the number of additional records per person corresponds to the number of fulfillment pieces for that person.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the additional records for each person are added to the database in distribution order.
 19. A method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database which contains a record for each person to receive a book, comprising the steps of:(a) creating template page files representing each page, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) adding an additional number of records to the database for each person, wherein the number of additional records per person corresponds to the number of fulfillment pieces for that person; (c) for each additional record added to the database, inserting a reference to a fulfillment piece; and (d) reading each record from the database, including mapping the variable information in the database to the corresponding placeholder on the page files to generate a book and, for each reference in the database to a fulfillment piece, generating that fulfillment piece.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of transmitting the books and fulfillment pieces to a demand printer to print the books and fulfillment pieces.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the demand printer prints the books and the fulfillment pieces as separate pages.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the additional records for each person are added to the database in distribution order.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the fulfillment pieces include variable information.
 24. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of imposing the books and the fulfillment pieces into a single book.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of printing the imposed books and fulfillment pieces as a single document.
 26. A method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database which contains a record for each person to receive a book, comprising the steps of:(a) creating template page files representing each page, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) adding a column to the database for each fulfillment piece and, for each column, adding a reference to the fulfillment pieces for each record; (c) creating a press command file for each book and each fulfillment piece and, for each record in the database, copying the press command file for the book and the press command file for each fulfillment piece referenced, and merging the copied press command files into a new press command file; and (d) interpreting the page files according to the new press command file, including mapping the variable data from the database to the corresponding placeholders on the page files.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of transmitting the books and fulfillment pieces to a demand printer to print the books and fulfillment pieces.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the demand printer prints the books and the fulfillment pieces as separate pages.
 29. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of imposing the books and the fulfillment pieces into a single book.
 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of printing the imposed books and fulfillment pieces as a single document.
 31. A method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database, comprising the steps of:(a) creating template page files representing each page, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) creating a controlling database containing variable data for the book, a record for each person to receive the book and a unique identification for each person; (c) creating a fulfillment database for each fulfillment piece, wherein each fulfillment database contains variable information for the fulfillment piece, a record for each person and the unique identification for each person; (d) analyzing the controlling database for identification numbers, and for each identification number, searching each fulfillment database for the records containing that unique identification, and for each record in each database containing that identification number, copying a press command file associated with the identification number and merging the copied press command files into a new press command file; and (e) interpreting the page files according to the new press command file, including mapping the variable information from the databases to the corresponding placeholders on the page files.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of transmitting the books and fulfillment pieces to a demand printer to print the books and fulfillment pieces.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the demand printer prints the books and the fulfillment pieces as separate pages.
 34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of imposing the books and the fulfillment pieces into a single book.
 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of printing the imposed books and fulfillment pieces as a single document.
 36. A method of generating books and fulfillment pieces in distribution order, wherein each book comprises a plurality of pages having static and variable information and the variable information is stored in a database which contains a record for each person, comprising the steps of:(a) creating template page files representing each page in a book, wherein the page files include the static information and a placeholder at the location on the page where the variable information will be reproduced; (b) adding a number of blank page files to the template page files, wherein the number of blank page files corresponds to a maximum number of pages in the fulfillment pieces; (c) inserting an image box on each added blank page file; (d) modifying the database by adding a reference to fulfillment piece pages for each record; (e) interpreting the page files, including mapping the variable information from the database to the corresponding placeholders on the page files; and (f) imposing the book pages and the fulfillment piece pages for each record in the database into a single book.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein each image box is named corresponding to a column name in the modified database.
 38. The method of claim 36, wherein the fulfillment piece pages are stored in a named file and the reference to the fulfillment pages in the database is the file name.
 39. The method of claim 36, wherein the fulfillment piece pages contain variable information.
 40. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of transmitted the single book to a demand printer. 